An investigation into the influence of geometry on compressed earth building blocks using finite element analysis

Jack Andrew Cottrell; Muhammad Ali; Alireza Tatari; Brett Martinson

doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.121997

An investigation into the influence of geometry on compressed earth building blocks using finite element analysis

Jack Andrew Cottrell^*, Muhammad Ali, Alireza Tatari, Brett Martinson

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Civil Engineering & Surveying

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

This paper presents a parametric investigation into the influence of geometry on the compressive and flexural strength of un-stabilised compressed earth blocks (CEBs). Three CEBs with dissimilar geometric properties were manufactured and subjected to physical testing and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) using ANSYS Workbench 19.1. The compressive and flexural strength of the CEBs were shown to be dependent on their geometric properties and ranged from 3.74 – 6.73 MPa and 0.63 – 1.31 MPa respectively. A modified Solid65 element command was utilised within the FEA and was shown to successfully replicate the non-linear elasto-plastic behaviour observed in physical testing.

Original language	English
Article number	121997
Number of pages	13
Journal	Construction and Building Materials
Volume	273
Early online date	25 Dec 2020
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.121997
Publication status	Published - 1 Mar 2021

Keywords

Un-stabilised compressed earth blocks
CEB machine
Geometric properties
Compressive and flexural strength
Finite element analysis

Access to Document

10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.121997

Cottrell_et_al_2020_AAMAccepted author manuscript (Post-print), 1.74 MBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND

19 Citations
2 Article

Influence of jute fibre and cement on the mechanical properties of raw earth mortar
Ali, M., Cottrell, J. A., Martinson, B. & Tatari, A., 15 Aug 2025, In: Journal of Building Engineering. 108, 22 p., 112935.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Open Access
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Physico-mechanical properties of compressed earth blocks stabilised with recycled waste glass particles and lime
Danso, H., Ali, M. & Martinson, B., 10 Jun 2025, In: Discover Civil Engineering . 2, 10 p., 110.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Open Access
File
1 Downloads (Pure)

Cite this

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title = "An investigation into the influence of geometry on compressed earth building blocks using finite element analysis",

abstract = "This paper presents a parametric investigation into the influence of geometry on the compressive and flexural strength of un-stabilised compressed earth blocks (CEBs). Three CEBs with dissimilar geometric properties were manufactured and subjected to physical testing and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) using ANSYS Workbench 19.1. The compressive and flexural strength of the CEBs were shown to be dependent on their geometric properties and ranged from 3.74 – 6.73 MPa and 0.63 – 1.31 MPa respectively. A modified Solid65 element command was utilised within the FEA and was shown to successfully replicate the non-linear elasto-plastic behaviour observed in physical testing.",

keywords = "Un-stabilised compressed earth blocks, CEB machine, Geometric properties, Compressive and flexural strength, Finite element analysis",

author = "Cottrell, {Jack Andrew} and Muhammad Ali and Alireza Tatari and Brett Martinson",

year = "2021",

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day = "1",

doi = "10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.121997",

language = "English",

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journal = "Construction and Building Materials",

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T1 - An investigation into the influence of geometry on compressed earth building blocks using finite element analysis

AU - Cottrell, Jack Andrew

AU - Ali, Muhammad

AU - Tatari, Alireza

AU - Martinson, Brett

PY - 2021/3/1

Y1 - 2021/3/1

N2 - This paper presents a parametric investigation into the influence of geometry on the compressive and flexural strength of un-stabilised compressed earth blocks (CEBs). Three CEBs with dissimilar geometric properties were manufactured and subjected to physical testing and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) using ANSYS Workbench 19.1. The compressive and flexural strength of the CEBs were shown to be dependent on their geometric properties and ranged from 3.74 – 6.73 MPa and 0.63 – 1.31 MPa respectively. A modified Solid65 element command was utilised within the FEA and was shown to successfully replicate the non-linear elasto-plastic behaviour observed in physical testing.

AB - This paper presents a parametric investigation into the influence of geometry on the compressive and flexural strength of un-stabilised compressed earth blocks (CEBs). Three CEBs with dissimilar geometric properties were manufactured and subjected to physical testing and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) using ANSYS Workbench 19.1. The compressive and flexural strength of the CEBs were shown to be dependent on their geometric properties and ranged from 3.74 – 6.73 MPa and 0.63 – 1.31 MPa respectively. A modified Solid65 element command was utilised within the FEA and was shown to successfully replicate the non-linear elasto-plastic behaviour observed in physical testing.

KW - Un-stabilised compressed earth blocks

KW - CEB machine

KW - Geometric properties

KW - Compressive and flexural strength

KW - Finite element analysis

U2 - 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.121997

DO - 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.121997

M3 - Article

SN - 0950-0618

VL - 273

JO - Construction and Building Materials

JF - Construction and Building Materials

M1 - 121997

ER -

An investigation into the influence of geometry on compressed earth building blocks using finite element analysis

Abstract

Keywords

Access to Document

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Research output

Influence of jute fibre and cement on the mechanical properties of raw earth mortar

Physico-mechanical properties of compressed earth blocks stabilised with recycled waste glass particles and lime

Cite this