Physico-chemical, mineralogical, and technological characterization of stabilized clay bricks for restoration of Kasbah Ait Benhadou- Ouarzazate (south-east of Morocco)

peer reviewedDue to ageing, the unfired brick masonry may detach and fall off, or deteriorate to such an extent that it becomes necessary to restore them. Such is the case, for instance, of the Ksar of Ait Benhadou in Ouarzazate, Morocco. Our study aims to provide compatible and sustainable earthen bricks to restore this monument. Samples were collected from facades that were under conservation/restoration at the time when sampling was performed. Clayey soil samples were collected vicinity to the Ksar and analyzed by X-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescence. A representative sample was stabilized with three aggregates (lime, cement and straw). The effect of ageing of the stabilized briquettes on shrinkage, water absorption, mechanical and thermal properties, compressive strength and thermal conductivity was studied on stabilized specimens. The samples consist mainly of clay minerals, calcite and quartz. They are rich in iron, aluminium and potassium. These samples are sandy with low plasticity (PI = 7%), which is slightly lower than the plasticity value required by the Moroccan standard for earth constructions. The results showed that the stabilized clayey soils have suitable properties such as density, porosity, water absorption and high thermal insulation. The best compressive strength performance is obtained for clay-stabilized samples with a high sand fraction. The thermal conductivity of clay-stabilized specimens increases as the specimens become denser and more compact, lime and straw have the opposite effect. Copyright 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the 3rd International Congress on Materials & Structural Stabilit