Published February 15, 2023 | Version 01
Journal article Open

Strength Assessment of Improved Adobe Brick Using Natural Stabilizers

Authors/Creators

  • 1. Assistant Lecturer, Department of Civil Engineering, Rwanda Polytechnic/IPRC Huye, Huye-Rwanda.
  • 2. Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering, University of Rwanda, College of Science and Technology, Kigali-Rwanda.

Contributors

Contact person:

  • 1. Assistant Lecturer, Department of Civil Engineering, Rwanda Polytechnic/IPRC Huye, Huye-Rwanda.

Description

Adobe or mud brick building technique is an ancient technique dating back at least to 8300 BC. The oldest continually inhabited structures in the world are made in adobe. Adobe brick have revealed many advantages such as low cost, simple construction, excellent thermal and acoustic properties. Dispute these advantages, adobe buildings experience many problems, like water effect and low brick strength, among others. The objective of this study was to assess the strength of adobe brick made from natural soils and stabilized using laterite, fine sand and fibrous grass. The study first checked the quality of all used materials components, and then with reference to the USCS, the classification and quality of those materials were determined. Afterwards, the controlling brick sample made of natural soil, and the stabilized brick made of natural soils with stabilizers were manufactured using the mix ratio of 50% natural soil, 30% of laterite, 15% of fine sand and 5% of fibrous grass. After the bricks curing, the compressive strength test was performed. It was observed that the adobe brick strength was improved from 1.04 N/mm2 to 2.128 N/mm2 after its stabilization. Further studies were recommended regarding the improvement of adobe bricks performance using other soils mixture content, or other types of stabilizers with target to achieve the strength of stabilized soil bricks with cement or even the strength of burnt bricks.

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