Abstract

ARANDA-JIMENEZ, Yolanda Guadalupe  and  SUAREZ-DOMINGUEZ, Edgardo Jonathan. Cactus stalk waterproof effect in compressed earth blocks. Nova scientia [online]. 2014, vol.6, n.11, pp.311-323. ISSN 2007-0705.

Earth architecture is known for centuries, however, is rarely used today compared to common construction systems. Compressed earth blocks (BTC) are structural elements with a high potential to be used in housing construction in Mexico, mainly by its similarity to traditional blocks, being suitable to improve its characteristics with a stabilizer. This paper was performed with BTC stabilized with cement and a substance from cactus stalk. It was found that adding cactus mucilage a significant increase in wet and dry compressive strength, which seems to be related to a decrease in porosity; some mucilage effect hypothesis in the solid analyzed are shown in this paper.

Keywords : Compressed earth blocks; cactus mucilage; BTC porosity; waterproof effect.

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