Physical and mechanical behavior of cement-stabilized compressed earth blocks reinforced by sisal fibers

Abstract

Nowadays, researchers are oriented to the usage of earth materials in construction as they possessed a lower thermal conductivity and thereby preserved the environment by reducing greenhouse emissions in buildings. One of these materials is the compressed earth block (CEB). Even though its attractive thermal and environmentally advantageous, CEB material present certain limitations related to its poorly strength in moist conditions, which limits its use at a high rate. The purpose of this article is to study the feasibility to improve the engineering properties of CEB produced from a red clay taken from M’sila region (Algeria) by the addition of sisal fibers, further cement is used to stabilize the composite. The fibers were added in different percentages 0; 0.1; 0.2; 0.3; 0.4 and 0.5 by total dry mass of the block. The obtained results show that the combined effect of fibers and cement improved the mechanical and physical properties of CEB material.