Mechanical properties and hygroscopicity behavior of compressed earth block filled by date palm fibers

Published Date
30 May 2014, Vol.59:161–168, doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2014.02.058

Author

• Bachir Taallah ^a
• Abdelhamid Guettala ^a
• Salim Guettala ^a,b,,
• Abdelouahed Kriker ^c

• aCivil Engineering Research Laboratory, University of Biskra, 07000 Biskra, Algeria
• bCivil Engineering Department, University of Djelfa, 17000 Djelfa, Algeria
• cE.V.R.N.Z.A Laboratory, University of Ouargla, 30000 Ouargla, Algeria

Received 16 November 2013. Revised 13 February 2014. Accepted 17 February 2014. Available online 15 March 2014. 

Highlights

• Mechanical properties and hygroscopicity behavior of compressed earth block filled by date palm fibers was investigated.
• •
  Better result of the dry compressive strength was observed with 0.05% fiber, 8% cement and compaction pressure of 10 MPa.
• •
  Impact of palm fibers on the tensile strength was unfavorable.
• •
  Increasing cement content and decreasing palm fibers content there is a decrease in total water absorption.
• •
  The swelling of the blocks increases with decreasing cement content and increasing palm fibers content.

Abstract 

This paper investigates the mechanical properties and hygroscopicity behavior of compressed earth block (CEB) filled by date palm fibers in order to valorize local building materials and the contribution to the cost reduction of housing especially in rural areas. In this framework, a series of blocks were fabricated using a soil, stabilised with cement, the crushed sand and fibers, and compacted with a static loading by applying three compacting stresses (1.50, 5 and 10 MPa). Better result of the dry compressive strength was observed by CEB with 0.05% of fiber content, 8% cement content and compaction pressure of the 10 MPa. But for the remaining studied cases, the addition of fibers under compaction pressure has an adverse effect on the properties of CEB. Impact of palm fibers on the tensile strength was unfavorable because of their low tensile strength, very high water absorption, by heterogeneity or distribution and a low adhesion with the matrix. Could be said that by increasing cement content and decreasing palm fibers content there is a general decrease in total water absorption of the blocks. The swelling of the blocks increases with decreasing cement content and increasing palm fibers content.

Keywords

Compressed earth block

Date palm fibers

Mechanical properties

Water absorption

Swelling

---

 Table 1

Table 1.

 Table 2

Table 2.

Fig. 1.

 Table 3

Table 3.

Fig. 2.

 Table 4

Table 4.

 Table 5

Table 5.

 Table 6

Table 6.

Fig. 3.

Fig. 4.

Fig. 5.

Fig. 6.

Fig. 7.

Fig. 8.

Fig. 9.

Fig. 10.

Fig. 11.

Fig. 12.

Fig. 13.

• ⁎ 
  Corresponding author at: Civil Engineering Research Laboratory, University of Biskra, 07000 Biskra, Algeria. Tel.: 00 213 551874005.

For further details log on website :
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0950061816314386