Evaluation of the Technological Properties of Soil–Cement Bricks with Incorporation of Coconut Fiber Powder

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of partial replacement of soil by different percentages of coconut fiber powder in the manufacture of soil–cement bricks. The reference mix ratio of 10:1 (soil:cement) in volume was used for the manufacture of bricks, in addition to the partial replacement of soil mass by 5, 10, and 15% of coconut fiber. The characterization of the raw materials was performed with the analysis of the granulometry, together with technological tests, such as mechanical compressive strength and water absorption. As a result, it was observed that the soil has 34.30% clay and 62.80% sand, characterizing a sandy-clay soil type and the coconut fiber powder was characterized as a fine aggregate. The mechanical compressive strength tests showed a decrease in their average values according to the increase in the incorporation of coconut fiber into the bricks. It was concluded that the results of the mechanical compressive strength and some of the water absorption are in disagreement with the Brazilian technical standard. This conclusion corroborates other studies that show the difficulty in standardizing reference mixtures and working with soil, which is a highly heterogeneous material.

Soil cement brick production process: literature review

“…Daily watering every day Campos 59 Successive wetting to keep brick damp for 7 days ABCP 28 After 12 h of conformation, soak for three times a day for 8 days. CEPED 17 Cure by immersion in water for 7 days and in air Savastano & Agopyan 55 Curing in a chamber with controlled temperature and humidity Baldovino 56 Laboratory cure air and water Abdel 57 Wet chamber for curing during the period of 7days Ferreira 58 Although the type of cure used influenced the compressive strength, the benefit of using a wet cure was not evident. Most materials suffer from poor performance when tested in high humidity conditions.…”

“…57 Furthermore, if the curing conditions are inadequate, transverse shrinkage cracks form in the cemented layer. 58 In CEPED 17 shows that the ideal cure should be at least seven days protected from open air and humidified at least twice a day. The correct and ideal procedure would be to promote drying in continuous flow ovens and the steam removed from the chamber, a product of the evaporated water, could be used to cure the bricks, thus the curing time could be accelerated.…”

Is the Soil-Cement Brick an Ecological Brick? An Analysis of the Life Cycle Environmental and Energy Performance of Masonry Walls

“…There has been extensive effort to recycle by-products from other industries by incorporation into soil-cement bricks and blocks materials such as coconut fibre waste [58], polymeric waste [59], granite cutting powder [60], clay and cement waste [61], mining waste and tailing [62,63], rice husk [64], foundry sand [65], and water treatment sludge [64,66], to cite a few. Even though brick and block raw materials are key contributors to the masonry life cycle environmental and energy performance, other aspects should also be factored in.…”