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Study on the mechanical performance of sustainable earth blocks from sandy granite saprolite and marble waste Cover

Study on the mechanical performance of sustainable earth blocks from sandy granite saprolite and marble waste

Scientific Review Engineering and Environmental Sciences
Volume 34 (2025): Issue 4 (December 2025)
By: Rahima Hamideche,  Samy Mezhoud and  Youcef Toumi  
Open Access
|Dec 2025

Figures & Tables

FIGURE 1.

Grain size distribution curve of sandy granite saprolite Source: own work.
Grain size distribution curve of sandy granite saprolite Source: own work.

FIGURE 2.

Grain size distribution curve of marble waste Source: own work.
Grain size distribution curve of marble waste Source: own work.

FIGURE 3.

A detailed flowchart outlining the various stages of the workflow Source: own work.
A detailed flowchart outlining the various stages of the workflow Source: own work.

FIGURE 4.

Compression test (a) and flexural test (b) Source: own work.
Compression test (a) and flexural test (b) Source: own work.

FIGURE 5.

Variation of density with cement content Source: own work.
Variation of density with cement content Source: own work.

FIGURE 6.

Variation of total water absorption with cement content Source: own work.
Variation of total water absorption with cement content Source: own work.

FIGURE 7.

Dry compressive strength of compressed earth blocks as a function of cement content Source: own work.
Dry compressive strength of compressed earth blocks as a function of cement content Source: own work.

FIGURE 8.

Flexural strength of compressed earth blocks as a function of cement content Source: own work.
Flexural strength of compressed earth blocks as a function of cement content Source: own work.

FIGURE 9.

Variation in the dry density of compressed earth blocks as a function of the applied compaction pressure Source: own work.
Variation in the dry density of compressed earth blocks as a function of the applied compaction pressure Source: own work.

FIGURE 10.

Variation of the total water absorption of compressed earth blocks as a function of the applied compaction pressure Source: own work.
Variation of the total water absorption of compressed earth blocks as a function of the applied compaction pressure Source: own work.

FIGURE 11.

Variation in the dry compressive strength of compressed earth blocks as a function of the applied compaction pressure Source: own work.
Variation in the dry compressive strength of compressed earth blocks as a function of the applied compaction pressure Source: own work.

FIGURE 12.

Correlation between the dry density and compressive strength of compressed earth blocks as a function of the applied compaction pressure Source: own work.
Correlation between the dry density and compressive strength of compressed earth blocks as a function of the applied compaction pressure Source: own work.

FIGURE 13.

Variation in the flexural strength of compressed earth blocks as a function of the applied compaction pressure Source: own work.
Variation in the flexural strength of compressed earth blocks as a function of the applied compaction pressure Source: own work.

Physical properties of the sandy granite saprolite

Water contenta [%]Bulk densityb [kg·m−3]Solid particle densityc [kg·m−3]Sand equivalentd [%]Proctor testeVBSf [-]
ρ [g·cm−3]Wopt [%]
11.111 460.662 427.1880.931.7511.60.24

Physical properties of marble waste

Bulk density [g·cm−3]Absolute density [g·cm−3]Grain size distribution [%]Fineness modulusSand equivalent [%]
< 0.08 mm0.08‒1.25 mm1.25‒5.0 mm
1.6652.6652.384.712.32.4889.6

Properties of the cement

PropertyValue
Chemical analysis [%]
Loss on ignition2.6‒3.7
Sulfate content (SO3)2.2‒2.8
Magnesium oxide (MgO)1.7‒2.8
Chloride content (Cl)0.03‒0.07
Potential clinker composition [%]
Tricalcium silicate (C3S)56‒66
Tricalcium aluminate (C3A)5.1‒7.2
Compressive strength [MPa]
For the 2-day-aged sample20‒29
For the 28-day-aged sample42.5‒52.5
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22630/srees.10568 | Journal eISSN: 2543-7496 | Journal ISSN: 1732-9353
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Language: English
Page range: 327 - 347
Submitted on: Jul 9, 2025
|
Accepted on: Oct 17, 2025
|
Published on: Dec 31, 2025
Published by: Warsaw University of Life Sciences - SGGW Press
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Keywords:
compressed earth block,
sandy granite saprolite,
cement,
compaction,
mechanical property
Related subjects:
Architecture and design,
Architecture,
Architects, buildings,
Geosciences,
Geosciences, other,
Engineering,
Mechanical engineering,
Fundamentals of mechanical engineering,
Geosciences,
Geology and mineralogy

© 2025 Rahima Hamideche, Samy Mezhoud, Youcef Toumi, published by Warsaw University of Life Sciences - SGGW Press
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License.

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