Fracture Resistance of Glass Fiber Reinforced Rammed Earth Materials

Sayed Mohammad Sajad Hussaini¹ Vahab Toufigh²

1) M.Sc. Student of Structural Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Email:
2) Assistant professor, Sharif University of Technology, Email:

Publication : The 5th International Congress On Civil Engineering, Architecture & Urban Development(5icsau.com)
Abstract :
Rammed earth structures are becoming popular due to eco-friendly and sustainable advantages. However, they have some limitations, mainly poor mechanical properties. Thus, stabilization with additives is usually carried out in order to improve the addressed weaknesses. In present work, the fracture and mechanical properties of rammed earth were investigated by means of a modified wedge splitting test, unconfined compression test and indirect tensile test. Unstabilized and glass-fiber reinforced rammed earth with various amount of incorporation of fibers were studied using cylindrical and cubic specimens. The results showed that addition of glass-fibers significantly increased fracture resistance and residual strength of rammed earth materials. In addition, glass fibers provided strong bond with clayey soil that improved the compressive strength of rammed earth.
Keywords : Rammed earth Glass fiber Wedge splitting test Fracture energy