Experimental Investigation of Hygrothermal Properties of Raw Earth Compressed Blocks

Raw earth, considered a low-carbon material, is increasingly utilized in the construction sector as a replacement for conventional construction materials. By reducing the demand for cooling and heating and providing comfortable indoor air quality, raw earth emerges as a material that meets these criteria. This study is part of the DuReTerre project, which aims to address the sustainability of earthen buildings by evaluating earth at the material, wall, and building scale. Specifically, this part evaluates the capacity of compressed earth blocks (CEB) to maintain a comfortable indoor ambiance while managing temperature and humidity levels within a building. To achieve this, thermophysical properties (thermal conductivity during variations in temperature and humidity levels) and hygric properties (sorption/desorption, capillary ab-sorption, Moisture Buffer Value, water vapor permeability and water con-tent) were assessed at the material scale. Results indicate that these blocks have moderate thermal conductivity but are capable of effectively regulating indoor moisture levels due to their remarkable hygric properties.