Influence of Banana Trunk Powder Incorporation on the Mechanical Properties of Stabilized Compressed Earth Blocks (SCEB) for Production at the National Laboratory of Building and Public Works of Côte d'Ivoire

In the context of climate change and the urgent need to reduce the carbon footprint of the construction sector, this study focuses on Stabilized Compressed Earth Blocks (SCEB) reinforced with banana trunk powder (BTP), as an alternative to cement, to improve their mechanical performance while promoting local resources. The main objective is to assess the effect of these additives on the flexural and compressive strength of the SCEB in order to determine optimal formulations. The methodology consisted of mechanical tests comparing two distinct formulations—earth + sand + BTP and earth + sand + cement—with additive dosages ranging from 2% to 10% and water content between 9% and 14%. The results revealed that a formulation with 2% BTP and 13% water produced the best mechanical performance, with flexural strength reaching 0.82 ± 0.10 MPa and compressive strength 3.91 ± 0.58 MPa, representing a significant improvement compared to the unstabilized control (0.55 ± 0.28 MPa in flexion and 2 ± 0.31 MPa in compression). However, higher BTP concentrations led to a marked decline in these properties. Conversely, the cement-stabilized formulation showed a linear improvement in performance, reaching 2.59 ± 0.31 MPa in flexion and 12.32 ± 0.66 MPa in compression for a 10% cement dosage with 13% water. The study concludes that the optimal formulation for SCEB combining mechanical efficiency and environmental sustainability is a mixture with 2% BTP and 13% water, paving the way for the development of innovative and eco-friendly construction materials.