ABSORPTION AND DESORPTION BEHAVIOR OF SOME CLAY-SANDY PLASTERS REINFORCED WITH NATURAL FIBERS USED FOR STRAW BALE BUILDINGS

Ashour, T.A.; Bahnasawy, A.B.; Ali,, S.A.

doi:10.21608/mjae.2010.105938

ABSORPTION AND DESORPTION BEHAVIOR OF SOME CLAY-SANDY PLASTERS REINFORCED WITH NATURAL FIBERS USED FOR STRAW BALE BUILDINGS

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Lecturer of Agric. Eng. Dept., Fac. Agric., Moshtohor, Toukh, Qalubia, P.O. Box, 13736, Benha University, Egypt.

² Associate Prof. of Agric. Eng. Dept., Fac. Agric., Moshtohor, Toukh, Qalubia, P.O. Box, 13736, Benha University, Egypt.

10.21608/mjae.2010.105938

Abstract

The objective of this research work is to study the absorption and dehydration behavior of some clay-sandy plasters reinforced with natural fibers that could be used for straw bale buildings. The plaster materials consisted of soil, sand and chopped straw. Straw is used as a reinforcement fiber for plaster. Three different types of fibers were used; wheat straw, barley straw and sawdust. The dehydration behavior of plaster materials were tested at three different temperatures, 30, 50 and 70°C. The obtained results showed that, the plaster reinforced with fibers dried slower than that without fibers. However, faster drying caused in cracks of the plaster which is not desirable in building surface coating. The moisture absorption rate increased with increasing fibers content and decreased with increased sand content. Moreover, the highest rate of moisture absorption occurred with the plaster reinforced with sawdust. While, the lowest rate of moisture absorption was achieved with the plaster without reinforcement fibers.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Agricultural Constructions Engineering

References

Ashour,T.H. (2003)“The use of renewable agricultural by- products as building materials.” Ph.D thesis, Benha University, Egypt. (http://www.downloads.fasba.de/TahaAshour-2003-complete.pdf).

ASHRAE (1997) “American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air conditioning Engineers, Inc.” Atlanta, GA 30329.

CDI and CRATerre-EAG (1995) “Compressed earth blocks standards.” ISBN 2-906901-18-0.

Coutts, R.P.S. and Ni, Y. B. C. (1994) “Tobias, Air-cured bamboo pulp reinforced cement” J. Mater. Sci. Lett. 13 (4): 283–285.

Coutts,R.P.S. (1983) “Wood pulp fiber–cement composites” J. Appl. Polym. Sci., Appl. Polym. Symp. 37: 10829–10844.

Hansen TC. (1986) “The second RILEM state of the art report on recycled aggregates and recycled aggregate concrete” Materials and Structures;1(111):201–204.

Hewlett,P. C. (1998) “Lea’s chemistry of cement and concrete.” London: Arnold.

Kornarzyñski, K. ; Pietruszewski, S. ; and Lacek, R. (2002)“Measurement of the water absorption rate in wheat grain.” Int. Agrophysics, 16: 33-36.

Lamond, J. F. ; Campbell, R. L. ; Campbell, J. A. ; Giraldi, A. , Halczak, W. ; Hale, H. C.(2002) “Removal and reuse of hardened concrete: reported by ACI committee 555.” ACI Materials Journal , 99(3):300–325.

Maddison, M., Mauring, T., K., Kirsima¨and U. Mander (2009). The humidity buffer capacity of clay–sand plaster filled with phytomass from recipe wetlands. Building and Environment 44 (2009) 1864–1868.

Medjo Eko, R., Mamba Mpele, M. H. Dtawagab Doumtsop, L. Seba Minsili and A. S. Wouatong. 2006. Some Hydraulic, Mechanical, and physical characteristics of three types of compressed earth blocks. Agricultural Engineering International: the CIGR E Journal. Voll. VIII, August 2006.

Vivian W.Y., Tam, X.F. Gao, C.M. Tam, C.H. Chan. 2008. New approach in measuring water absorption of recycled aggregates. Construction and Building Materials 22 (2008) 364–369.

Wirsching. F., 1984.: Drying and Agglomeration of Flue Gas Gypsum. In The Chemistry and technology of Gypsum. Philadelphia: American Society for Testing and Materials 1984. pp. 161-174.