Experimental analysis of Pressed Adobe Blocks reinforced with Hibiscus cannabinus fibers

• Published in: Construction & building materials 2014-02, Vol.52, p.71-78
• Main Authors: Millogo, Younoussa, Morel, Jean-Claude, Aubert, Jean-Emmanuel, Ghavami, Khosrow
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Civil Engineering; Engineering Sciences; Fibers; Hibiscus cannabinus fibers; Mechanical properties; Microstructural characteristics; Physical and mechanical characteristics; Pressed Adobe Blocks; Properties; Reinforced concrete; Sustainable building material
• ISSN: 0950-0618; 1879-0526
• DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2013.10.094

•Short Hibiscus cannabinus fibers in feeble amount improved physical and mechanical properties of Pressed Adobes Blocks.•Additions of these fibers improve the microstructure homogeneity within the specimens with reduction of pores size.•Increasing of mechanical properties is mainly linked to nonpropagation of cracks in the amended clay matrix with fibers.•Impact of fibers on flexural strength was positive because of their high tensile strength and adhesion to the clay matrix.•The elaborated Pressed Adobe Blocks specimens were suitable as building material with contribution for thermal comfort. There is an intense on-going search for less polluting materials and technologies, which consume little energy in their production, construction and/or utilization. Attention of the researchers has turned to materials, which found applications in engineering in pre-industrial times: local vegetable fibers and earth composites are one of the promising materials. This paper presents the results of an investigation in establishing the physical and mechanical properties of Hibiscus cannabinus fibers which have been used in the fabrication of Pressed Adobe Blocks (PABs). The PABs have been reinforced with 0.2–0.8wt.% of 30mm and 60mm lengths of H. cannabinus fibers. The microstructural characteristics of the PABs composites were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal gravimetric analyses (TGA), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and video microscopy. It was established that the addition with 0.2–0.6wt.% of 30mm long fibers reduced the dimensions of the pores in the PABs with the improvement of their mechanical properties. However, the addition of 0.8wt.% of 60mm fibers had negative effects on the compressive strength. The elaborated Pressed Adobe Blocks specimens were suitable as building material with contribution for thermal comfort.