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Mechanical and Thermal Performance Characterisation of Compressed Earth Blocks

Author

Listed:
  • Elisabete R. Teixeira

    (Department of Civil Engineering, Institute for Sustainability and Innovation in Structural Engineering (ISISE), University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal)

  • Gilberto Machado

    (Department of Civil Engineering, Institute for Sustainability and Innovation in Structural Engineering (ISISE), University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal)

  • Adilson de P. Junior

    (Department of Civil Engineering, Institute for Sustainability and Innovation in Structural Engineering (ISISE), University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal)

  • Christiane Guarnier

    (Federal Center for Technological Education “Celso Suckow da Fonseca” (CEFET/RJ), Rio de Janeiro-RJ 20271-110, Brazil)

  • Jorge Fernandes

    (Department of Civil Engineering, Institute for Sustainability and Innovation in Structural Engineering (ISISE), University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal)

  • Sandra M. Silva

    (Department of Civil Engineering, Institute for Sustainability and Innovation in Structural Engineering (ISISE), University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal)

  • Ricardo Mateus

    (Department of Civil Engineering, Institute for Sustainability and Innovation in Structural Engineering (ISISE), University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal)

Abstract

The present research is focused on an experimental investigation to evaluate the mechanical, durability, and thermal performance of compressed earth blocks (CEBs) produced in Portugal. CEBs were analysed in terms of electrical resistivity, ultrasonic pulse velocity, compressive strength, total water absorption, water absorption by capillarity, accelerated erosion test, and thermal transmittance evaluated in a guarded hotbox setup apparatus. Overall, the results showed that compressed earth blocks presented good mechanical and durability properties. Still, they had some issues in terms of porosity due to the particle size distribution of soil used for their production. The compressive strength value obtained was 9 MPa, which is considerably higher than the minimum requirements for compressed earth blocks. Moreover, they presented a heat transfer coefficient of 2.66 W/(m 2 ·K). This heat transfer coefficient means that this type of masonry unit cannot be used in the building envelope without an additional thermal insulation layer but shows that they are suitable to be used in partition walls. Although CEBs have promising characteristics when compared to conventional bricks, results also showed that their proprieties could even be improved if optimisation of the soil mixture is implemented.

Suggested Citation

  • Elisabete R. Teixeira & Gilberto Machado & Adilson de P. Junior & Christiane Guarnier & Jorge Fernandes & Sandra M. Silva & Ricardo Mateus, 2020. "Mechanical and Thermal Performance Characterisation of Compressed Earth Blocks," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-22, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:11:p:2978-:d:369433
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Fernandes, Jorge & Mateus, Ricardo & Gervásio, Helena & Silva, Sandra M. & Bragança, Luís, 2019. "Passive strategies used in Southern Portugal vernacular rammed earth buildings and their influence in thermal performance," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 345-363.
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    Cited by:

    1. Qinglong Gao & Tao Wu & Lei Liu & Yong Yao & Bin Jiang, 2022. "Prediction of Wall and Indoor Hygrothermal Properties of Rammed Earth Folk House in Northwest Sichuan," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-16, March.
    2. Raphaele Malheiro & Adriana Ansolin & Christiane Guarnier & Jorge Fernandes & Maria Teresa Amorim & Sandra Monteiro Silva & Ricardo Mateus, 2021. "The Potential of the Reed as a Regenerative Building Material—Characterisation of Its Durability, Physical, and Thermal Performances," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-19, July.
    3. Aditya Raj & Tarun Sharma & Sandeep Singh & Umesh Sharma & Prashant Sharma & Rajesh Singh & Shubham Sharma & Jatinder Kaur & Harshpreet Kaur & Bashir Salah & Syed Sajid Ullah & Soliman Alkhatib, 2023. "Building a Sustainable Future from Theory to Practice: A Comprehensive PRISMA-Guided Assessment of Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks (CSEB) for Construction Applications," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-35, June.

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