Performance of CDW Based Controlled Flow Stabilized Adobe Reinforced with Coir and Polypropylene Fiber

Abstract

Increased construction activity has resulted in depletion of natural resources, generation of construction and demolition waste (CDW) and surge in energy consumption and carbon emissions. Conventional building materials such as masonry units are brittle and energy intensive, necessitating sustainable alternatives. Stabilized adobe block (SAB), compressed earth blocks, and rammed earth are a few such alternatives to conventional masonry unit. However, challenges such as brittle behavior and production uniformity due to manual mixing and kneading persist. To address these issues, this study aims to develop CDW based controlled flow stabilized adobe (FSAB) incorporating coir (CF) and polypropylene (PF) fibers. Results reveal physical, absorption, and mechanical properties of fiber reinforced FSAB were more than the limiting values recommended by Indian standard code of practice. An optimum fiber dosage of 0.33% significantly enhanced the secant modulus by 1.26 to 2.76 times that of unreinforced FSAB. Sustainability analysis indicates embodied energy (EE) and embodied carbon (EC) of fiber reinforced FSAB are in the range of 4.75 to 7.76 MJ/block and 0.992 to 1.074 kgCO2e/block respectively. This research promotes sustainable construction practices by providing an innovative, and resource-conserving masonry unit that addresses environmental and mechanical limitations of conventional masonry units.