Improving the Sustainable Characteristics of Rammed Earth

Abstract

This research was carried out to investigate the potential of producing eco-friendly compressed earth bricks (CEB) using the sandy soil abundantly available in Egypt. Eco-friendly stabilization materials were developed using pozzolanic materials from agricultural wastes and industrial by-products such as fly ash, silica fume, GGBS, metakaolin and rice husk ash. The efficiency of the developed stabilization materials was investigated through studying the effect of incorporating the alkali-activated pozzolanic materials proposed in this research as a partial or full substitution of cement on the compressive strength of mortars cured at ambient temperature. The physical, thermal, and mechanical properties of CEB made by the developed stabilization materials as a partial or full replacement of cement were then investigated. In addition, the potential of producing CEB with low thermal conductivity using polysterene foam and rice husk as partial replacement of soil was also investigated.