Investigation of thermal inertia and hydric properties of an eco-building material: compressed stabilized earth blocks

Compressed stabilized earth block is a local building material, which has incontestable ecological advantages, in addition to a good and approved mechanical resistance. The purpose of this article is to provide the missing information in the literature regarding the dependence on moisture of the thermal properties of CSEB, and to analyze the hydric behavior of this material. Measurements show that an effective thermal conductivity and diffusivity increases with increasing moisture content. A linear relationship, between thermal conductivity and moisture content is obtained. Theoretical analysis allows also to deduce specific heat and thermal effusivity. Thermal inertia is quantified by phase shift and thermal damping. The effect of moisture on all the thermal properties is established. Experimental characterization of CSEB behavior during capillary water absorption and convective drying is investigated as well. Experiments are performed under natural and forced convection on several blocks. CSEB presents interesting thermal characteristics. Results show that the moisture effect is very important and cannot be neglected during the calculation of the envelope thermal behavior or the building's energy consumption.