Investigation of the thermomechanical characteristics of compressed earth bricks reinforced with cement and corn straw waste fibers

Abstract

The earthen construction sector attracts worldwide attention, and earthen bricks are widely used. The construction industry has also progressed in its use of natural green resources such as plant fibers to design building materials that are both economically and ecologically sustainable. However, the valorization of plant waste in construction represents a crucial environmental challenge. The present study focuses on the development and characterization of a new, low-cost earth-based building material stabilized with cement and corn straw fibers in southeastern Morocco. Different earth bricks stabilized with different cement contents and corn straw fibers were developed. The physico-chemical characterization of the soils used in the design of the bricks was carried out, using physico-chemical, mineralogical and geotechnical characterization, including X-ray diffractometer (XRD) analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. The first results reveal that the predominant minerals in oasis soils include ferrous clinochlore, muscovite, calcite and quartz, which are mainly composed of silt and sand. Then, the eligibility of these soils for compressed earth brick (CEB) construction was assessed, adhering to established guidelines for the identification of suitable soil types. In addition, the thermal properties of the bricks were determined, finding that the use of corn straw fibers improves the thermal performance of the bricks, and cement stabilization leads to an improvement in the bricks' mechanical properties.