Structural Performance of Reinforced and Un-reinforced Earth Block Masonry Under Compressive, Flexural and Diagonal Compressive Loads

Earth represents one of the most ancient construction materials, and it is still proving its importance in developed and developing nations around the globe. This paper attempts to study the properties of locally available soil and its suitability as a construction material. The behavior of steel-reinforced, bamboo-reinforced and un-reinforced cement-stabilized compressed earth block masonry specimens was studied for their compressive strength, in-plane flexural strength, out-of-plane flexural strength and diagonal compressive strength. The comparative structural performance of the dry-stacked-interlocked masonry specimens and mortar-stacked-non-interlocked masonry specimens was also investigated in this study. For all these studies, 45 masonry specimens were cast using compressed hollow earth blocks (CHEB) and interlocked compressed earth blocks (ICEB). These CHEB and ICEB were produced using a manually operated press at 10% cement stabilization in the lab. The results of this study were comparable to good quality burnt clay bricks masonry prism strengths. The effect of the reinforcements on the failure pattern of the specimens was also examined, and it was found that the use of the reinforcements in these specimens increased their load carrying capacity. This research provides valuable insights for eco-conscious architects and engineers interested in utilizing earth as a sustainable construction material.