Mechanical and physical properties of stabilized compressed earth block (CEB) reinforced with date palm wood chips
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.38152/bjtv7n4-036Keywords:
CEBs, stabilizers, date palm wood chips, fiber, mechanical properties, physical propertiesAbstract
In the building sector, compressed earth blocks (CEB) are valued for their affordability, environmental friendliness, and energy efficiency. This study investigates the mechanical and physical properties of CEBs reinforced with date palm wood chips (DPWC) in variable amounts (0%, 0.1%, 0.3%, and 0.5%) and stabilized with different stabilizers (5% and 10% cement, 7% and 12% lime). The mixtures were then compacted under a static load. The mechanical properties were evaluated through compressive strength tests conducted under both wet and dry conditions at 28 days. In addition to assessing the mechanical performance of CEB over the long term, flexural and compressive strength tests were performed on CEB samples after 60 days. The findings show that adding (DPWC) improves the flexural strength in particular cement stabilization ratios, while adversely affecting the compressive strength of CEB. The study highlights the need for careful fiber content management, as excessive fibers can weaken CEB, particularly when lime is used as a stabilizer. Furthermore, Cement-stabilized CEBs continue to improve in strength over time, while lime-stabilized samples show less significant improvements.
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