Characterization, Mix Design, Mechanical Testing of Earth Materials, Stabilized and Unstabilized, for Building Construction

摘要

Earth material was used for millennia, later abandoned by many communities, appear today as an alternative to face climate change and resource limitations. The objectives of this study were to 1) characterize earth readily available in large quantity for building construction, 2) formulate mix design stabilized with cement and unstabilized, and 3) do the mechanical tests to get the strengths in order. The soil was taken in Mascouche north from Montreal Island, in Quebec, Canada. The earth characterization was performed according to Canadian Standards Association and American Society for Testing and Materials. According to the results the sample contains 4% clay and organic materials, 8% silt, 85% sand, and 9 % gravel. The texture of this sandy soil was composed of fine homogeneous particles giving a very well graded earth. The soil fineness modulus of 0.58 was low compared to concrete sands which are usually between 2.2 and 2.8. The organic material content was high in the fine part of the material (10%). The coarse aggregate used in concrete are natural stones and angular aggregates. Three different sizes were tested and mixed in appropriate proportions to obtain a uniformly graded aggregate. The constituent materials of earth concrete (water, cement, earth and gravel) was determined by absolute volume. Six earth mixes were tested, stabilized, or unstabilized. The slump, density, air content, and compressive strength of these mixes were determined. Due to the presence of organic matter, the stabilized earth underperformed, but still represents a stabilization success. Adding clay to the sandy earth increased its strength. Metakaolin further increased the compressive strength.