Thermal and Mechanical Behavior of Compressed Earth Blocks Stabilized with Rice Husk Ash, Jaggery and Lime

Abstract

Huge demand of building materials leads to excessive consumption of natural resources and adversely affects the construction costs. In the current situation in building materials, consumers prefer only concrete blocks, fired bricks and cement-stabilized compressed earth block (CEB). The use of cement in construction leads to higher cost and environmental degradation and also minimizes human thermal comfort. Stabilization of soil with organic elements is considered as one of the main solutions to this issue. This study aims at determining the mechanical and thermal characteristics of CEBs stabilized with varying quantities of lime and jaggery, and the same proportions are investigated with adding rice husk ash (RHA) which is considered as a natural waste. The higher compressive force required to produce CEBs increases its strength but adversely affects its thermal behavior. Adding RHA in small proportion increases the mechanical strength of CEB as well as decreases the thermal conductivity, which is essentially a desired phenomenon in the aspects of energy-saving and thermal insulation of building materials. For economical and sustainable construction, these blocks are ecofriendly and feasible compared with cement-made building blocks.