Thermophysical characterization of earth blocks stabilized by cement, sawdust and lime

Abstract

Several buildings throughout the world are built with blocks of compressed and stabilized ground. These blocks do not commonly have the same thermal properties necessary for their use. If the incorporation of stabilizer in these blocks like lime or cement increases the mechanical properties, it is not the case for the thermophysical properties. In this paper, the evolution of the thermal properties of earth blocks according to the rates of stabilizer and their nature was discussed. The experimental method of “hot iron” was applied. Results indicate that thermal conductivity increases when percentages of cement and lime increase. However, it decreases when the rates of the sawdust increase. Moreover, thermal resistance decreases according to the percentages of lime and cement, and increases according to the percentages of the sawdust.

Keywords

• earth blocks
• stabilization
• thermal conductivity
• thermal resistance
• cement
• lime
• sawdust