Performance Evaluation of Loess-Post Harvest Waste Mixture: Insights from Residential House on Loess Plateau, China

Abstract

In Northwest China, residential houses have always been constructed using the post-harvest waste (PHW) such as straw bale. The major constituents for the straw bale generally are loess, wheat straw and corn cob. Since most the residential houses have been utilised under extreme climate over decades, the phenomenon drives this study to investigate the mechanical properties of the loess-PHW mixture through a series of uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) and strain- and stress-controlled direct shear (DS) tests. The loess-PHW mixture specimens fail in ductile mode as subjected to axial loads, which indicates a good energy absorption ability. The loess-PHW mixture specimens also possess a better strength and load-carrying capacity than the loess specimens. The findings not only highlight the superior performance of the loess-PHW mixture, but also promote the development of sustainable building.