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<p>Earthen construction offers a low-carbon, locally sourced alternative to fired masonry, yet its widespread use is limited by modest strength and brittle post-peak behavior. Bio-based fibers are a promising low-impact stabilizer, but reported strength gains vary widely because fiber morphology and clay mineralogy are seldom controlled independently. This study isolates those variables by combining pure kaolinite, illite, and montmorillonite clays with well-characterized cellulose fibers whose length-to-diameter ratios span two orders of magnitude. Model clay–sand bricks were assessed through compressive testing, static yield stress measurements, and scanning electron microscopy. Fiber morphology proved decisive. Long cellulose fibers (≈ 100 × clay particle size; ≈ 10 × sand grain size) formed an entangled, well-bonded network that increased compressive strength and post-peak ductility of montmorillonite bricks by up to 120% compared with fiber-free controls, whereas short fibers produced only marginal gains. Reinforcement efficiency also depended on clay mineralogy, with benefits being pronounced in montmorillonite, moderate in illite, and negligible in kaolinite, reflecting differences in fiber–clay adhesion. These results show that effective fiber stabilization of earthen materials requires matching fiber aspect ratio to particle size and selecting clays capable of strong interfacial bonding. The findings provide quantitative guidelines for designing low-carbon, fiber-reinforced earth products and establish a framework for future durability and field-scale studies.</p>

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Mechanical performance of clay-based bricks reinforced with cellulose fibers: fiber morphology matters

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年11月4日

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  • Julia Tourtelot,
  • Jean-Didier Mertz,
  • Benjamin Maillet,
  • Ann Bourgès,
  • Emmanuel Keita

摘要

Earthen construction offers a low-carbon, locally sourced alternative to fired masonry, yet its widespread use is limited by modest strength and brittle post-peak behavior. Bio-based fibers are a promising low-impact stabilizer, but reported strength gains vary widely because fiber morphology and clay mineralogy are seldom controlled independently. This study isolates those variables by combining pure kaolinite, illite, and montmorillonite clays with well-characterized cellulose fibers whose length-to-diameter ratios span two orders of magnitude. Model clay–sand bricks were assessed through compressive testing, static yield stress measurements, and scanning electron microscopy. Fiber morphology proved decisive. Long cellulose fibers (≈ 100 × clay particle size; ≈ 10 × sand grain size) formed an entangled, well-bonded network that increased compressive strength and post-peak ductility of montmorillonite bricks by up to 120% compared with fiber-free controls, whereas short fibers produced only marginal gains. Reinforcement efficiency also depended on clay mineralogy, with benefits being pronounced in montmorillonite, moderate in illite, and negligible in kaolinite, reflecting differences in fiber–clay adhesion. These results show that effective fiber stabilization of earthen materials requires matching fiber aspect ratio to particle size and selecting clays capable of strong interfacial bonding. The findings provide quantitative guidelines for designing low-carbon, fiber-reinforced earth products and establish a framework for future durability and field-scale studies.