Assessment of the Load-Bearing Capacity of Non-Fried Compressed Earth Brick Masonry used in Housing Construction in difficult Moutainous Areas

Abstract

Non-fired Interlocking compressed earth bricks (named Non-fired compressed earth bricks) have been initially used in the construction of low-rise housing for ethnic minorities in some mountainous areas. This type of brick is made from local soil and cement, which helps reduce material transportation costs due to the challenging terrain. Because of the interlocking feature, the masonry made from non-fired compressed earth bricks does not require mortar, unlike traditional fired clay brick walls. This paper focuses on assessing the load-bearing capacity of non-fired compressed earth brick masonry under the effect of axial compressive loads. Two sample groups of masonry made from non-fired clay bricks were created. Each group consists of 3 masonry samples with dimensions of 300 x 600 mm (group 1) and 600 x 600 mm (group 2). In each sample group, the masonry are divided into: samples without vertical ribs, samples with reinforced vertical ribs but no steel bars, and samples with reinforced vertical ribs and steel bars. The experimental results clarify the failure mechanism and load-bearing capacity of non-fired compressed earth brick masonry with/without reinforced vertical ribs. In addition, the research results contribute to providing a foundation for the widespread use of nonfired compressed earth bricks in construction, with the aim of developing safe and sustainable housing in dificult mountainous areas.

Keywords: Non-fired compressed earth bricks; masonry; concentrated axial load; reinforced ribs; Sustainable development.