Enhancing the performance of compressed soil bricks with natural additives: Wood chips and date palm fibers

摘要

In this study, the effect of natural fibers such as date palm fibers and wood chips on the mechanical and physical properties of soil brick samples was investigated. The study also evaluated the effect of clay modifier addition on the main brick mixtures. Soil bricks specimens were fabricated using different amounts of natural fibers, clay modifiers together with different proportions of cement. The date palm fibers had a more significant influence compared to the wood chips on the soil brick's properties. The compressive strength and the water absorption became 2.24 MPa and 15.5%, respectively by the addition of 1% date palm fibers. On the other hand, the 5% wood chip addition increases the compressive strength to 1.72 MPa while the water absorption became 18.1%. It was found that the date palm fibers had a more significant influence compared to the wood chips on the soil brick's properties. (C) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.