"A FIELD INVESTIGATION OF COMPOSITE MUD BRICK COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH" by Kevin D. Hale

Date of Award

2015

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MS)

College, School or Department Name

Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics

Advisor

Michele H. Miller

Co-Advisor

Ibrahim Miskioglu

Abstract

It has been highlighted in numerous publications that in the field of earth construction there is a strong disconnect between experimental work in the laboratory and its application in the field. The current study attempts to help bridge this gap with a field test conducted in Nampula, Mozambique. Mud bricks were made with a simple hand mold and reinforced with bamboo and straw fibers. Fibers were cut into lengths of 3 cm and 6 cm while being mixed in fractions of 0.125%, 0.25% and 0.50% by weight and compressive strength was measured using an application of the 3-point bending test. It was found that neither straw nor bamboo increased the composite brick’s strength and in fact a decrease of strength was recorded. An increase in brick strain energy density was observed with increasing fiber fraction.

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