Experimental Characterization of Sisal Fiber Reinforced Adobe Bricks
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Date
2022-03-10
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The paper presents the result of a research aimed at comprehensively characterizing the physical, chemical and mechanical performance of adobe bricks produced by blending soils from termite mound, clay obtained from brick producing companies and by reinforcing using sisal fiber. Adobe is a traditional building material made of soil mixed with or without fiber or it is a mud bricks baked using sun light. Due to it is less impact on the environment, the use of adobe bricks is getting more scientific attention.
It is the fact that provision of adequate and affordable house is one of the greatest challenges of the Ethiopian government. In terms of the quality of construction material, over 50% of the housing units are categorized as substandard and poor quality. Specific to the use of wall material in urban areas over 70.8% are made of “Chika,” Wood plastered with mud mortar. It is practically possible to use traditional building material for at least domestic use so as to contribute by producing adobe bricks for the construction of affordable housing units. Unfortunately, the mechanical characteristics of the adobe bricks produced by local material and reinforced with sisal fiber as well as the use of termite mound blending with clay soil for production of adobe bricks not addressed yet. The target of this experimental investigation is to fill the gap in terms of experimental data on the material, show the possible use of termite mound for production of adobe bricks and minimize the possible formation of cracks by incorporating sisal fiber on the adobe bricks.
The outcomes of this research depicted that the use of termite mound blended with red clay for the production of adobe brick soil gives improved compressive strength and the use of sisal fiber mixed with soil matrix can enhance deformation properties and facilitate the drying process.
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Sisal Fiber Reinforced, Bricks