The Impact of the use of Cement as Stabilizers on the Mechanical and Physical Properties of Compressed Earth Blocks: Experiment Design as a Methodology

Abstract

Raw earth has been a popular material for ecological construction in recent decades. and low energy consumption that characterizes its overall life cycle. However, its relatively low mechanical strength and water sensitivity inhibit the development of this material. The need to obtain a durable material must consider a treatment that, while ensuring sufficient mechanical strength, it also makes it insensitive to the action of water. The purpose of this work is to determine the physical properties and mechanical strength of compressed earth bricks while enhancing local soils, with the use of cement as a stabilizer, The addition of sand as a particle size correction factor. A statistical process was used through the experimental design method to model the mechanical behaviour of the composite studied and thus deduce the optimum of the factors that lead to the desired improvements, the results we obtained indicate that the addition of a binder, which is cement, causes a decrease in dry densities with a slight increase in optimal water contents. In addition, there is also an increase in compressive strength with the increase of cement content. Finally, it should be noted that the experimental design technique, which was used to model the mechanical behaviour of the composites studied, provides encouraging and promising results. It may be able to replace or complement experimental tests. It is an effective and less expensive method, which minimizes the number of experimental trials.