Abstract
Introduction: In the present work, the physical characteristics of two alterites (S1 and S2) used for Compressed Earth Blocks (CEB) manufacture were studied. The results obtained have shown that S1 and S2 consist of inorganic clays. Methods: The material S1 is a plastic soil of very soft consistency and S2 is a low plastic soil of very soft consistency. It was shown that the natural alterites studied are not suitable for the CEB manufacture. In order to improve the granulometry of these materials, a physical correction by adding sand in various proportions were proposed. With the aim of verifying the validity of the elaborated proposals, samples of CEB manufactured from materials stabilized with sand were manufactured and tested in the laboratory. Results and Conclusion: The results obtained show that, concerning the S1 material, the tensile strength is satisfactory for the sand/soil ratios of 1/3, 1/2 and 2/3. The abrasion resistance and the water absorption coefficient are satisfactory for the ratios of 1/3 and 1/2, respectively. For all the sand/soil ratios, the compressive strength has remained lower than that required for CEB as materials for load-bearing walls. For the S2 material, all the sand/soil ratios enable the improvement of the CEB characteristics, but these still below the required values. From all the foregoing, it follows that the studied alterites, improved by the addition of sand, can be used for the manufacture of compressed earth blocks to be used for the construction of non-load bearing walls.
Highlights
In the present work, the physical characteristics of two alterites (S1 and S2) used for Compressed Earth Blocks (CEB) manufacture were studied
The present work aimed to study the physical characteristics of alterites and proposing improving measures for the production of compressed earth blocks
A comparison of the mechanical characteristics of compressed earth blocks (CEB) manufactured from the natural primary materials to those of CEB produced from the material having undergone stabilization by adding sand at different proportions was done
Summary
The physical characteristics of two alterites (S1 and S2) used for Compressed Earth Blocks (CEB) manufacture were studied. The results obtained have shown that S1 and S2 consist of inorganic clays. Due to their high cost, modern materials are almost inaccessible for the greater part of the population of developing countries. Construction in earth material has many advantages which are: low cost of construction [1], aesthetics, thermal [2] and acoustic isolation, the low maintenance cost, high resistance to fire, flexibility in its application, and several surface textures can be realized, which produces a more acceptable architecture and assure the preservation of the cultural patrimony. The number of scientific work done on alterites remains relatively low
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