Philibert Nshimiyimana PhD

Effect of the type of clay earthen materials and substitution materials on the physico mechanical properties and durability of compressed earth blocks.

 

The mechanical and hydrothermal performances of compressed earth blocks (CEBs) are essential for improving the quality and thermal comfort of housing in Sub-Saharan countries and, specifically, Burkina Faso. How to reach the required performances of CEBs from clay materials and by‑products available in Burkina Faso?

This study aimed to characterize the suitability of clay earthen materials from four sites: Kamboinse, Pabre, Kossodo and Saaba; industrial by‑product from Kossodo: calcium carbide residue (CCR), agricultural by‑product from Bagre: rice husk/ rice husk ash (RHA) and Okra plant fibers from Kaya in Burkina Faso for the production of stabilized compressed earth blocks (CEBs). The characterizations were carried out on physical-textural, chemical and mineral properties.  The study additionally tested the physico‑mechanical, hygro‑thermal and durability performances of CEBs stabilized with the by‑products for applications in building construction in Sahelian context.

Mixtures were produced by adding 0-25 wt % CCR, 10-25 wt % CCR:RHA (various ratios) and 0.2-1.2 wt % fibers to the earthen materials. The mixtures were used to produce the mix solutions and stabilized CEBs: (295x140x95 mm³), cured in various conditions for 0 to 90 days. The particle distribution of clay materials contains clay, silt, sand and gravel. The sites of Pabre and Kossodo contain the highest fraction of clay particles (20-30%) and gravel particles (40%), respectively. The mineral composition is dominated by kaolinite, quartz and goethite. The sites of Saaba and Pabre contain the highest fraction of kaolinite (60-70%) and quartz (45‑60%), respectively. The CCR predominately contains portlandite (40-50 % hydrated lime: Ca(OH)₂). The RHA is predominately amorphous, with pozzolanic reactivity.  Saaba and Kossodo recorded the highest rate of pozzolanic reactivity with the CCR related to the high content and degree of disorder of kaolinite. Pabre and Kamboinse recorded the lowest rate of reactivity.

With respect to the unstabilized CEBs (0% CCR), the compressive strength of CEBs stabilized with 20% CCR cured at  40±2°C for 45 days produced with the clay material from Saaba improved tenfold (0.8 to 8.3 MPa) compared to Kamboinse (1.1 to 4.7 MPa), Pabre (2 to 7.1 MPa) and Kossodo (1.4 to 6.4 MPa). All clay materials are suitable for the production of stabilized CEBs with compressive strength of 4 MPa. Furthermore, the stabilization of earthen materials from Kamboinse (700 000 m³) with by‑product binders improved the structural efficiency CEBs cured in ambient condition of the lab (35±5°C): increase of compressive strength and decrease of bulk density. It also improved the hygro‑thermal efficiency: decrease of thermal effusivity, conductivity and diffusivity and increase of thermal specific capacity and sorption. The CEBs stabilized with at least 10 % CCR or 18-2 to 16:4 % CCR:RHA satisfy various requirements in terms of engineering and durability properties for construction of two or three storey buildings.  

Keywords: calcium carbide residue; clay; compressed earth block; durability; engineering properties; mineralogy; reactivity; microstructure; pozzolanic reaction; rice husk ash.

Publications

26-27/04/2017 (oral): P. Nshimiyimana, A. Messan, L. Courard, Effect of the Nature of Clay and Substitution Materials on the Physico-Mechanical Properties of Compressed Earth Blocks (CEBs), Doctoral School on Sustainable Built Environment (DS2BE), Liège, Belgium. More

11-15/12/2017 (oral): P. Nshimiyimana, D. Miraucourt, A. Messan, L. Courard, Compressive strength of compressed earth blocks stabilized with calcium carbide residue and rice husk ash, Africa Material Research Society (AMRS2017) 9^th international conference, Gaborone, Botswana .More

05/01/2018: P. Nshimiyimana, D. Miraucourt, A. Messan, L. Courard, Calcium Carbide Residue and Rice Husk Ash for improving the Compressive Strength of Compressed Earth Blocks, MRS Advances (in press).

08/11/2018 (oral) : Nshimiyimana, Philbert ULiege; Messan, Adamah; Zhao, Zengfeng ULiege, Influence des sous-produits industriels et agricoles sur la microstructure et la résistance mécanique de la brique en terre comprimée. More

13/12/2018 : Nshimiyimana, Philbert ULiege; Messan, Adamah; Courard, Luc ULiege, Amélioration des performances des briques en terre comprimées à travers une réaction pouzzolanique. More

2019 : Nshimiyimana, Philbert ULiege; Messan, Adamah; Zhao, Zengfeng ULiege, Chemico-microstructural changes in earthen building materials containing calcium carbide residue and rice husk ash. More

2019: Moussa, Seini Hassane; Nshimiyimana, Philbert ULiege; Hema, Césaire, Comparative Study of Thermal Comfort Induced from Masonry Made of Stabilized Compressed Earth Block vs Conventional Cementitious Material. More

11/12/2019 (oral): Nshimiyimana, Philbert ULiege; Moussa, Seini Hassan; Messan, Adamah , Effects of production and curing conditions on performances of stabilized compressed earth blocks: Kaolinite vs quartz-rich materials. More

2020 : Nshimiyimana, Philbert ULiege; Moussa, Seini Hassan; Messan, Adamah , Effects of production and curing conditions on performances of stabilized compressed earth blocks: Kaolinite vs quartz-rich materials. More

2020 : Nshimiyimana, Philbert ULiege; Fagel, Nathalie ULiege; Messan, Adamah, Physico-chemical and mineralogical characterization of clay materials suitable for production of stabilized compressed earth blocks. More