Mechanical and thermophysical properties of compressed earth brick rienforced by raw and treated doum fibers.

• Raw and treated doum fibers were used to produce compressed earth brick (CEB). • The mechanical and thermophysical properties of CEB are investigated. • The reinforcement by doum fibers decreases density and increases water absorption. • The addition of fibers decreases thermal conductivity and compressive strength. • The use of doum fibers promises the production of an ecological building material. This work investigates the physical and mechanical properties of compressed earth brick (CEB) reinforced with raw doum fibers (RDF) and treated doum fibers (TDF). Firstly, the raw materials were characterized. Then CEB reinforced by fibers varying from 0 to 2% by mass were elaborated. The addition of RDF and TDF reduces the compressive strength by 25% and 35% respectively. However, the inclusion of fibers improves the thermal insulation of CEB and decreases its density of about 16%. The research finding indicates also that the capillarity absorption increases with the increase of fiber content. These results indicated that the use of doum fibers to produce ecological building materials has a promising future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]