Mechanical properties of on-site manufactured stabilised compressed earth blocks: an experimental investigation and proposed models

The interest in earth construction is growing increasingly as society becomes more aware of the importance of sustainable building. A considerable number of investigations have been devoted to studying the mechanical properties of compressed earth blocks (CEBs). However, most of these studies were conducted in laboratory settings. Little focus has been directed at studying the performance of CEBs that use on-site soil and other local materials to construct small-scale housing at the same location. A total of 120 CEBs were manufactured on-site from four block mixes: coarse soil with and without Phragmites Australis (Phragmites) and fine soil with and without Phragmites. By comparing the results achieved with minimum strength requirements from different building codes, the dry compressive strengths of all four block mixes were deemed adequate for single-storey structures. The addition of Phragmites caused a slight increase in the compressive strength and a slight decrease in the flexural strength of the CEBs. A formula to estimate the flexural strength of the blocks given the compressive strength is proposed based on a database of test results from the literature and this investigation's results. CEBs can create a sustainable building solution, especially in remote areas and Indigenous communities with limited access to conventional building materials.