Physical, Mechanical and Durability Properties of Soil Building Blocks Reinforced with Synthetic Fibre

Abstract

Earth construction is the most economic way to solve housing problems, particularly in case of low cost building, with the limitation of resources. The simplicity in production of earth blocks justifies by the availability of soil as raw material and by the less energy in production. Generally, fibre inclusion increases the strength and performance of the earth blocks. Synthetic fibre such as AR glass fibre, polypropylene fibre were used and investigated experimentally with different percentages of fibre 0.25 %, 0.50 %, 0.75 % and 1 % by weight of earth. A sequence of test was conducted with and without addition of fibre to soil building blocks. Physical properties, mechanical properties and durability properties specifically density test, water absorption by capillarity test, linear shrinkage, compressive test, indirect tensile stress, wearing test and erosion test were conducted and compared with different fibre ratio to determine the optimum fibre content in each mix order to produce blocks that will provide the maximum strength.

Recycling of Synthetic Waste Wig Fiber in the Production of Cement-Adobe for Building Envelope: Physio-Hydric Properties

“…(a) (b) The same trend noticed in this study was outlined in [59]. The use of natural sugarcane bagasse in [60] revealed a rise in shrinkage with sugarcane bagasse dosage up to 5 % vol fraction.…”

Performance of Polypropylene Fibre Reinforced Laterite Masonry Bricks

“…Jalaei & Jrade [15] reported similar results on compressed stabilized earth bricks reinforced with polypropylene fibre and concluded that the inclusion of fibre prevents catastrophic failure and improves the post-initial crack performance of the sample. Results found here (Figure 8) are at variance with Selsiadevi & Ramani [16] ones. They reported that the tensile strength of polypropylene fibre (12 mm length and 0.15 mm diameter) reinforced laterite soil bricks increases with the increase in fibre content, and the investigation was conducted up to 1% fibre content by the dry weight of the soil.…”

“…The increase in compressive strength of polypropylene fibre reinforced concrete specimens may be attributed to the polypropylene fibre acting as a bonding material between the surrounding particles or to the geometric shape and interface of the fibre [15]. Selsiadevi & Ramani Sujatha [16] attributed the increase in strength to the frictional resistance developed between the fibre and the soil matrix. It is also important to note that the failure mode in every test with monofilament polypropylene fibre was ductile, while with unreinforced soil, the failure was brittle.…”

“…Jalaei & Jrade [15] reported an increase in compressive and flexural strengths of compressed stabilised earth bricks with increasing polypropylene fibre content and length and found the maximum strengths at 0.2% fibre content with 54 mm fibre. Selsiadevi & Ramani Sujatha [16] reported increased compressive strength of polypropylene fibre reinforced soil bricks with increasing fibre content (ranging from 0 to 1% fibre content by weight of dry soil), with a fibre aspect ratio of 80.…”

Effects of Recycled Expanded Polystyrene Beads on the Mechanical and Physical Properties of Cement-Stabilized Compressed Earth Bricks

“…In fact, the presence of a high proportion of EPS beads increases the number of pores and voids in the bricks [23], leading to increased water migration into the CEB. Indeed, several studies have shown that the incorporation of plastic aggregates in bricks leads to an increase in the water absorption rate of the bricks [23,[34][35][36][37]. This increase would be due to the inclusion of heterogeneities by the plastic, which would probably make the materials more porous.…”