Investigation of the mechanical effects of coconut coir reinforcement on Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks

Abstract

Compressed stabilised earth blocks (CSEBs) are produced from inorganic soil compacted under high pressure to create a solid block. This study explores the potential benefits of incorporating coconut coir into CSEBs to enhance their mechanical properties and water absorption. It focused on optimising the mix design of CSEBs with coconut coir reinforcement to achieve maximum compressive strength and minimise water absorption. The study employs a quadratic model to analyse the effects of moisture ratio, cement ratio, and coconut coir content on compressive strength. The results indicate that the moisture content and cement ratio significantly affect compressive strength, while coconut coir content is insignificant. However, the findings suggest that adding coconut coir can reduce water absorption in CSEBs. The analysis of variance reveals that the model is significant, with a predicted R-squared of 0.5884 and an adjusted R-squared of 0.6592. The results contribute to the growing research on using coconut coir as a reinforcement material in CSEBs, offering practical recommendations for their application in building construction.