Physico-Mechanical Properties of Bio-Based Bricks

Abstract

The aim of this work is to improve the high performance of mud bricks. The latter was reinforced with rice straws as stabiliser leading to an improvement of the physico-mechanical properties. Thus, the physical characteristics of the clay such as natural water content, density, atterberg limit, plasticity limit (Wp) and plasticity index (Ip) were determined. Their values are respectively 8.39%, 2025.73 Kg/m3, 47.66%, 29.75% and 17.91%. The clay used is a low plastic organic silt. The normal proctocol provided an optimum dry density (&#611OP) of 1.28 Kg/m3 at an optimum moisture content of 12.42%. The actual density of the straw is 464 Kg/m3, its absorption rate reached 206% in 5 mins and stabilised at 385% at 480 mins of immersion. The maximum bending and compression strengths are respectively 1.52 and 0.164 MPa. The mud brick absorption coefficients obtained are between 4.875 at 0% straw and 20.573% at 3% straw.