Effectiveness of Salty Sand in Improving the Adobe’s Thermomechanical Properties: Adrar Case Study (South Algeria)

Abstract

Adobe constructions have always existed, particularly in the Sahara’s dry and scorching regions. This material has a high thermal inertia and can protect buildings from inclement weather. Its mechanical resistance, on the other hand, is still low and has to be increased. The current research, thus, investigated the effect of sand salinity on the thermal and mechanical properties of adobe. The sand needed to create adobe blocks was purchased from 2 distinct locations. The first one was normal sand while the other one was salty sand rich in SO4- sulfate. We considered different ratios of each sand from 10, 20 up to 90 %. The results showed that the adobe made from the sulfate-containing sand improved the compressive strength by about 36 % from 1.91 to 2.58 MPa, and flexural strength by about 71 %, from 0.35 to 0.60 MPa, and reduced the thermal conductivity by 14 % from 0.86 to 0.72 w/mk. HIGHLIGHTS Improving the compressive strength by about 36 % Improving the flexural strength by about 71 % Improving its thermal behaviour and inertia by about 3 % Testing more of 90 samples Studying two different locations Analyse Mineral and physical Analyse of clay and sands from the arid zone GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT