Contemporary difficulties and challenges for the implementation and development of compressed earth block building technology in Argentina

Abstract This research aims to produce a Compressed Earth Block (CEB) product using locally available soil collected from northern Jordan. The CEB mixture was further stabilized using Portland cement, lime, and sodium silicate. The research significance is based upon the urgent need of most developing countries (e.g. Jordan, Egypt…etc) to build more durable and low-cost houses by using locally available materials. As a result, CEB was identified as a cheap and environmentally friendly construction material. CEB specimens were thoroughly characterized by studying the mechanical properties and durability characteristics. Blocks of 30 x 15 x 8 cm with two holes of 7.5 cm in diameter have a potential for higher enduring, higher compressive strength, better thermal insulation, and lower production cost. Blocks were manufactured with an addition of 8 % for either Portland cement or lime, as well as 2 % of sodium silicate to the soil. The results showed that the addition of 8 % of cement to the CEB achieves satisfactory results in both mechanical and durability properties. Also, the addition of sodium silicate was found to enhance the early-age compressive strength however it affected negatively the durable properties of blocks by increasing the erosion rate and deterioration when exposed to water.

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Stability Coefficient of Interlocking Compressed Earth Block Masonry under Axial Compression

Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering ◽

10.1139/cjce-2019-0281 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Tianya Wang ◽

Yihong Wang ◽

Guiyuan Zeng ◽

Jianxiong Zhang ◽

Dan Shi

Keyword(s):

Compressive Strength ◽

Axial Compression ◽

Design Guidelines ◽

Stability Coefficient ◽

Strength Failure ◽

Compressed Earth Block ◽

Out Of Plane ◽

The Stability ◽

Earth Block ◽

Plane Deformations

To investigate the effects of the height-thickness ratio (β) on the mechanical properties and stability coefficients (φs) of interlocking compressed earth block (ICEB) masonry members under axial compression, four groups of specimens with different β of 3.75, 6.75, 11.25, and 14.25 were tested, thereby assessing their stress process, failure mode, compressive strength, and in- and out-of-plane deformations. All the specimens underwent brittle failure under axial compression: the compressive strength was found to decrease in a range from 5.6% to 43% with increasing β, whereas the initial stacking defects and the in- and out-of-plane deformations increased. The specimens became less stable, and we noticed that the overall damage was caused by strength failure and not instability failures. Because the stability coefficient of ICEB-based masonry components cannot be calculated as those of more conventional brickwork, we combined our results with well-established masonry design guidelines and derived an interlocking improvement coefficient.

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Steam Punks

Mechanical Engineering ◽

10.1115/1.2011-jun-2 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 133 (06) ◽

pp. 32-37

Author(s):

Jefrey Winters

Keyword(s):

Open Source ◽

Induction Furnace ◽

Modern Life ◽

Hydraulic Power ◽

The Past ◽

Computer Numerically Controlled ◽

Compressed Earth Block ◽

Minimum Number ◽

Earth Block ◽

Web Platform

This article discusses how some amateur engineers are working to design and build a set of tools that would enable self-reliant people to make everything they need. Marcin Jakubowski and his colleagues are among such people who are working for the past many years on the concept of open-source economy. The rationale for this concept is steeped in the language of empowerment. Using an open-source Web platform known as a wiki, Jakubowski worked with a far-flung network of collaborators over the Internet to identify the minimum number of technologies needed to produce a reasonable facsimile of modern life. Some of the items on the resulting list are the greatest hits of industrialism over the past 200 years: the steam engine, the combine, and the induction furnace. So far, the team has completed seven prototype machines: the tractor, a tiller, a hydraulic power unit, a computer numerically controlled plasma torch table, a drill press, a hole punch, and a compressed earth block press.

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