Rammed Earth Construction Using Cement & Coir Fibers

Abstract

The paper aims to investigate the geotechnical and mechanical properties of rammed earth blocks by analyzing their compressive and tensile strength, density, and durability, while taking into account the effects of coir elongation and cement content. The specific aspects that were analyzed in the study are as follows:a) Effect of coir % & elongation on OMC and MDD, b) Effect on Consistency of sample, c) Combined effect of cement and coir on compressive strength, d) Combined effect of cement and coir on tensile strength. The objective of this investigation is to determine the optimum value of stabilizer for rammed earth blocks that will improve their geotechnical and mechanical properties while also fulfilling the principles of sustainability. The experiment used 8% cement as a stabilizer and 8% coir as reinforcement in lengths ranging from 20 mm to 40 mm.  Based on the results of the experiment, it was found that the characteristic dry compressive strength of the rammed earth blocks improves up to 1% coir of 20 mm length, and then gradually decreases as the length and percentage of coir increase. In addition, the strength ratio drops by about 3.05%–6.27% as the coir length increases from 20 mm to 40 mm.These results suggest that the optimum value of coir reinforcement for improving the mechanical properties of rammed earth blocks is 1% with a length of 20 mm. However, it is important to note that the sustainability of the technique should also be considered when determining the optimum value of stabilizer and reinforcement.  Overall, the investigation demonstrates that the use of coir reinforcement along with cement stabilization can be an effective approach for improving the geotechnical and mechanical properties of rammed earth blocks. However, further research is needed to optimize the coir percentage and length to achieve the desired strength properties while ensuring sustainability.