Experimental Study on the Mechanical Properties of Straw Fiber–Reinforced Adobe Masonry

Abstract

Adobe has been used as an economic building material since ancient times and continues to be used today, particularly in developing countries. Due to its sustainability credentials, interest in adobe as an alternative to traditional fired masonry has gathered pace. In order to develop guidance on the design of new adobe structures and the strengthening of existing ones, a detailed understanding of the material’s properties is required. Currently available studies on adobe material often concentrate on one particular property. Due to the differences in adobe makeup, correlation of the existing results can be problematic. To address this, a detailed experimental study using one consistent, reproducible and realistic adobe mix is presented here. The material behavior in compression (including strength gain with time), tension, and shear is studied. For the first time, the interface between the adobe units and mud mortar is investigated in direct tension and in shear, including the effects of coexisting compression. Crucially, parameters such as tensile and shear fracture energy, often excluded from existing experimental work, are evaluated. The data provided herein will enable development of accurate numerical and analytical models to describe adobe masonry structural behavior.