Work

Recyclability of vernacular adobes with high chalk content in the context of sustainable construction

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: The contemporary construction industry faces significant challenges, necessitating a response to multiple issues: reducing material resource consumption, minimizing construction waste, transitioning to carbon-neutral building methods, and fostering a circular, local, and inclusive economy. The recycling of raw earth adobes, an ancient architectural practice still employed today, appears to meet all these criteria. This study addresses the potential alterations in the physical properties of adobes when they are reconstituted multiple times, particularly when they contain a high chalk content. The findings indicate that over several recycling cycles, the mechanical and thermal properties remain consistent. The substitutability of raw earth, defined as the ability of recycled material to perform the same function as the original, is evidently robust.

Source: Case Studies in Construction Materials

DOI: 10.1016/j.cscm.2024.e04145