Sustainable Earth Bricks: Characterisation of Milled Glass and Cissus Producta Fibre as Stabilisers and Reinforcement
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.38094/jocef701119Keywords:
Recycled Glass Powder, Cissus Producta Fibre, Compressed Earth Block, Density, Water Absorption, Compressive Strength, Tensile Strength, Erosion ResistanceAbstract
This study focused on evaluating the properties of earth bricks incorporating milled glass as a binder and Cissus producta fibre as reinforcement. The investigation began with an assessment of the soil's physical characteristics through particle size distribution and compaction tests. Earth bricks were then produced using a constant 15% milled glass content and varying fibre contents of 0.25%, 0.50%, 0.75%, and 1%. These bricks were tested for density, water absorption, compressive strength, split tensile strength, and erosion resistance over curing periods of 7, 14, 21, and 28 days. The test results indicated that the soil had medium moisture content and a well-graded particle distribution, while the milled glass was significantly finer, making it suitable as a pozzolanic material. The enhancement was observed with the addition of Cissus producta fibre, with optimum results achieved at 15% glass powder and 0.75% fibre content. Compressive strength values of 1.315 N/mm², 1.834 N/mm², and 2.135 N/mm² were recorded for the sample without milled glass, the sample with 15% milled glass, and the 15% milled glass and 0.75% fibre-reinforced sample, respectively. Corresponding tensile strength values were 0.103 N/mm², 0.137 N/mm², and 0.233 N/mm². The study concluded that the incorporation of milled glass and Cissus producta fibre significantly enhances the performance of earth bricks, improving their mechanical strength, durability, and structural integrity. It is therefore recommended that the use of earth bricks be promoted as an environmentally friendly approach to managing agricultural and glass wastes.
References
Ghana Statistical Service (2021). Ghana 2021 Population and Housing Census. https://www.statsghana.gov.gh/gssmain/fileUpload/pressrelease/Volume%203K_Housing%20Characteristics_240222.pdf. Last Accessed: 22.08.2023
Zievie, P., & Yalley, P. P. (2016). Evaluation of the Strength Properties of Soil Bricks Produced with Processed African Locust Bean Waste water as Stabiliser. American Journal of Engineering Research, 5(1), 34–41.
Tomy, T. K. (2020). Development of Sustainable Masonry Brick. December. https://yorkspace.library.yorku.ca/xmlui/handle/10315/37476
Asante, E. (2019). University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh design and fabrication of a sustainable construction brick. July.
Manjunath, R., Lokesh, S., Babu, V., Prasad, N. J., & Naganna, K. (2021). Properties of Brick by Using Granite Waste and Quarry Dust. 2(7), 1–8.
Yalley, P. P. & Kankam, C. K. (2021). Experimental and Computational Analysis of Compressive Strength of Bricks with Granite Powder and Fibres as Binder to Soil. Journal of Materials Science Research and Reviews. February.
Onugba, M. A. (2023). Effect of palm fibre on compressed cement-stabilized earth blocks. August. https://doi.org/10.62254/jmt.2023.19.1.26
Hailat, R. (2021). Characteristics of hollow compressed earth block stabilized using cement , lime , and sodium silicate. 17(1), 200–208. https://doi.org/10.2478/cee-2021-0021
Danso, H. (2016). Use of Agricultural Waste Fibres as Enhancement of Soil Blocks for Low-Cost Housing in Ghana. November 2017.
Bouhicha, M., Aouissi, F., & Kenai, S. (2005). Performance of composite soil reinforced with barley straw. 27, 617–621. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2004.09.013
Yalley, P. P. (2018). Stabilising Earth Brick with Palm Kernel Oil Residue for Construction of Low-Cost Housing. Advancements in Civil Engineering & Technology, 1(1), 1–5. https://doi.org/10.31031/acet.2018.01.000504
Madurwar, M. V., Ralegaonkar, R. V., & Mandavgane, S. A. (2013). Application of agro-waste for sustainable construction materials: A review. Construction and Building Materials, 38(October), 872–878. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2012.09.011
Jesudass, A., Gayathri, V., Geethan, R., M. Gobirajan, M., & Venkatesh, M. (2023). Experimental investigation on strength and durability aspects of earthen blocks. November 2022. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0108163
Akinwande, A. A., Balogun, O. A., Danso, H., Romanovski, V., Ademati, A. O., & Oyediran, A. O. (2023). Development of Insulating Masonry Bricks from Wood Fiber and Varying Glass powder Proportion. 12(1), 40–54.
Danso, H., Ige, O., Williams, J., Mensah, P., & Adewale, A. (2025). Physico-mechanical properties of compressed earth blocks stabilized with recycled waste glass particles and lime. Discover Civil Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44290-025-00269-x
Gowtham, R., & Prabhu, S. M. (2021). Study of the Effects of Waste Glass Additives on the Properties and Compliance level of Fired Ceramic Masonry Bricks. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/1107/1/012053
Akinwumi, I. I, Ajayi, O. O., Joshua, O., Sani, R., Olofinnade, O. M., Awoyera, P. O., Ogundairo, T. O., Ogunwole, D. A., & Afolayan, O. D. (2019). Housing crisis: Waste glass-stabilized clay for use as fired clay bricks https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/640/1/012072
Xin, Y., Robert, D., Mohajerani, A., & Tran, P. (2022). Transformation of waste-contaminated glass dust in sustainable fired clay bricks. Case Studies in Construction Materials, 18(November), e01717. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2022.e01717
Xin, Y., Mohajerani, A., Kurmus, H., & Smith, J. V. (2021). Possible recycling of waste glass in sustainable fired clay bricks: A review. January. https://doi.org/10.21660/2021.78.Gx260
BS 1377 (2022). Methods of testing soils for civil engineering purposes. British Standards Institution, London, UK.
Martinson, D. B., Danso, H., Ali, M., & Williams, J. (2015). Effect of fibre aspect ratio on mechanical properties of soil building blocks. Construction & Building Materials, 83(May), 314-319. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2015.03.039
BS EN 771-1 (2011). Specification for masonry units. Clay masonry units. European Standard adopted by British Standards Institution, London, UK.
BS EN 772-11 (2011). Methods of test for masonry units - Determination of water absorption of aggregate concrete, autoclaved aerated concrete, manufactured stone and natural stone masonry units due to capillary action and the initial rate of water absorption of clay masonry units. European Standard adopted by British Standards Institution, London, UK.
BS EN 772-1 (2011). Methods of test for masonry units - Determination of compressive strength. European Standard adopted by British Standards Institution, London, UK.
ASTM C1006 (2020). Standard test method for splitting tensile strength of masonry units.
NZS 4298 (1998). Materials and Workmanship for Earth Buildings. New Zealand Standard. New Zealand: Standard New Zealand, Wellington.
Yalley, P. P. & Kwan, A. S. K. (2008). Use of Waste and Low Energy Materials in Building Block Construction. 25th Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture (PLEA). Dublin.
Mehdipour, I., & Khayat, K. H. (2017). Effect ofparticle-size distribution and specific surface area of different binder systems on packing density and flow characteristics of cement paste. Cement and Concrete Composites, 78, 120-131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2017.01.005
Danso, H., Martinson, D. B., Ali, M., & Williams, J. B. (2015). Effect of sugarcane bagasse fibre on the strength properties of soil blocks. 33(2), 251-256.
Turkmen, I., Ekinci, E., Kantarci, F., & Sarici, T. (2017). The mechanical and physical properties of unfired earth bricks stabilized with gypsum and Elazig Ferrochrome slag. International Journal of Sustainable Built Environment, 6(2), 565-573.
Akinwade, A. A., Adediran, A. A., Balogun, O. A., Abel, B. A., Daniel, T. P., Kazeem, R. A., & Olayanju, T. M. A. (2021). Study of the effects of waste glass additives on the properties and compliance level of fired ceramic masonry bricks. In IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering (Vol. 1107, No. 1, p. 012053). IOP Publishing.
Vodounon, N. A., Kanali, C., & Mwero, J. (2018). Compressive and Flexural Strengths of Cement Stabilized Earth Bricks Reinforced with Treated and Untreated Pineapple Leaves Fibres. 145-160. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojcm.2018.84012
Attah, M., & Ademola, L. (2023). Enhancing Earth-based Building Materials: Effect of Palm Fibre Reinforcement on Compressive Strength. November. https://doi.org/10.9734/jerr/2023/v25i111020
Ghana Building Code GS 1207 (2018). Building and Construction, Accra.
Danso, H., Martinson, D. B., Ali, M., & Williams, J. B. (2015). Effect of sugarcane bagasse fibre on the strength properties of soil blocks. 33(2), 251-256.
Danso, H., & Adu, S. (2019). Characterization of Compressed Earth Blocks Stabilized with Clay Pozzolana Journal of Civil & Environmental. March. https://doi.org/10.4172/2165-784X.1000331
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Thomas Kodjo Tettey
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License [CC BY-NC-SA 4.0] that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work, with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online.
