المستخلص: |
The recent significant increase in cost of heating and air conditioning; the significant increase in the price of the primary building construction material; and the improper management of solid waste currently practiced in Jordan, were the incentives for performing this research. The objective of the study is to investigate the applicability of using adobe clay bricks as energy-efficient, economical, and environmental friendly material in construction of buildings. Adobe clay bricks are modular blocks made of clayey soil mixed with various solid waste materials to improve the thermal, physical, and mechanical properties of the bricks. A chopped low density of polyethylene and chopped straw (i.e. hay) were evaluated as candidates as additives for production of adobe clay bricks. A laboratory testing program was conducted to evaluate the properties of soil and the mechanical properties of the adobe clay bricks. Additionally, a survey using a structured questionnaire was conducted to obtain the mean cost of heating and air conditioning of a typical Jordanian house or apartment. Furthermore, a simple cost-benefit analysis was performed to compare the benefits of using the adobe clay bricks vs. an ordinary hollow masonry blocks for construction of buildings walls for a typical Jordanian housing unit. The research concluded that using adobe clay bricks in construction would help in energy-saving, cost less than the hollow concrete bricks, improves the environment, and provides a thermally stable comfort living space. The proposed brick could be used in construction of non-load bearing walls.
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