Contribution to the Study of Influence of Cement Addition on the Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Traditional Plaster Bricks
Abstract
The aim of the work presented is to study the possibility of using traditional plaster, which is found in considerable quantities in southern Algeria, to prepare bricks with sufficient mechanical characteristics to qualify them for the various applications and uses in construction.
Timchemt is a traditional plaster had been used for a long time and until today in the construction of the Ksar of Ouargla through their facility of obtaining and realization, in addition to that because of the use of industrial building materials, nature is carried out by the toxic gases that produce in order to factories when these materials manufactured. So to minimize these negative effects on our planet and to encourage the use of local materials from the Saharan region we have studied this material to improve their characteristics and to replace the others especially that it is natural and does not harm the environment.
We have divided this work into two parts, the first is by the physical and chemical characterization of this traditional plaster (Timchemt) and the second is by making Timchemt bricks and adding cement with different mass percentages of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5% ,applying a series of mechanical and thermal tests on its bricks.
The results showed that the addition of 2% of cement gave the best value to make the bricks more resistant.
Keywords-Brick; Traditional plaster; Cement; Thermal properties; Mechanical properties.