Comparative Study of the Reactivity of Clay Earth Materials for the Production of Compressed Earth Blocks in Ambient Conditions: Effect on Their Physico-Mechanical Performances

This study assesses the reactivity of four (04) different types of clayey earthen materials (Kamboinsé, Pabré, Saaba, and Kossodo) with Ca(OH)2, analytical lime (AL) versus lime residu (LR), in ambient conditions. The effect of the stabilization of the earth with the LR was also studied on the performances of compressed earth blocks (CEB). The lime content varied from 0 to 20% with respect to the mass of dry earth material. The analysis of the reactivity and physico mechanical proper-ties were respectively carried out on the solutions of the mixtures (earth + LR and earth + AL) and CEB (earth + LR). The mixtures were cured between 0 and 60 days at the ambient temperature of laboratory (30±5 °C). The results showed that the reactivity of the clayey earth materials with AL is comparable to that with the LR. At the same time, this reactivity improved the physical and mechanical properties of stabilized CEB depending on the type of earth material, lime content and curing time. The maximum values of the dry compressive strength, observed for each material stabilized with 20% LR, are 6 and 7 MPa (Kamboinsé), 8.8 and 9.3 MPa (Pabré), 6 and 6.5 MPa (Saaba), 8.8 and 9.7 MPa (Kossodo) respectively at curing time of 28 and 45 days. The structural efficiency of CEB was also im-proved which implies that, in the current conditions, the stabilization of earth ma-terials using LR allows to produce the CEB for potential applications in wall masonry.