Evaluation of the Potential of Natural Mining By-Products as Constituents of Stabilized Rammed Earth Building Materials
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: In this investigation, different natural by-products were used to modify the Particle Size Distribution (PSD) of a soil to evaluate their potential in Stabilized Rammed Earth (SRE) building. Three different mixes were manufactured: (i) a mix composed entirely of a clayey soil, (ii) a mix consisting of mining by-products and clayey soil and (iii) a mix entirely based on mining by-products. Unstabilized and stabilized samples of the mixes were manufactured using two cement dosages (2.5% and 5%), and the samples were tested for Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS), soaked UCS, and wetting and drying tests. Mining by-products demonstrated significant potential in SRE building, as their addition to the clayey soil resulted in higher UCS values compared to the UCS obtained from clayey soil alone. Unstabilized samples lost their integrity during exposure to water. The inclusion of mining by-products also showed potential as, although the mixes did not fully meet the requirements for soaked UCS and the wetting and drying tests, the mix containing both mining by-products and clayey soil retained its integrity in water, unlike the samples composed solely of clayey soil. M3C5 successfully met the requirements for soaked UCS and the wetting and drying tests, further highlighting the great potential of mining by-products in SRE building.
Source: Applied Sciences
DOI: 10.3390/app15095167
Authors: Miguel Angel Martin-Antunes, Céline Perlot, Pedro Villanueva, Rafik Abdallah, Andrés Seco
Language: English
Subfield: Building and Construction
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,896
Awards: G7387834083, G8866759658
OpenAlex ID: W4410120109