Adobe soil-cement bricks with wood sawdust residue addition

Abstract

Degradation and the environmental impacts caused by the civil construction industry (CCI) are observed in all stages of its production process. In this context, alternatives have been sought to reduce the accelerated consumption of natural resources, environmental damages, high energy consumption in material manufacturing, and the costs of final products, such as the development of sustainable construction techniques and materials. Within this context, the reuse of waste generated by the civil construction industry, agribusinesses, and other sectors is highlighted. The reclamation of raw earth for the production of stabilized soil blocks is one of the possibilities for reusing these materials and promoting sustainable development within the CCI. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of incorporating wood sawdust into a soil-cement matrix for the production of adobe bricks, focusing on presenting alternative construction materials with low environmental impact. To achieve this, analyses of simple compressive strength, water absorption capacity, and shrinkage have proceeded for the 7-day cure period. Blocks manufactured with the addition of wood sawdust demonstrated adequate performance in terms of shrinkage.