This article presents an experimental study on the determination of the characteristics of local materials used for the construction of building walls. The use of these materials makes it possible to solve two major problems in the building sector, namely the reduction of the cost of constrictions and the reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The objective of this work is to evaluate the thermal and mechanical properties of red clay used in construction in the peri urban areas of the city of Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso. The thermal properties were estimated with the box method and the compressive strengths were determined using a press equipped with a hydraulic cylinder. The thermal conductivity evolves according to the mass of the straw in the clay. It is 0.328 W.m-1.K-1, for a clay without straw. This value decreases by 32.26%, 43.29% and 57.01% respectively when 1%, 2% and 3% of the straw mass is added to the mixture. The mechanical resistance is 0.786 MPa for a clay without straw. This value decreases by 22.26%, 43.76% and 28.88% respectively when 1%, 2% and 3% of the straw mass is added to the mixture. These stabilized bricks will improve the thermal and mechanical performance of building walls.

Clay Straw Stabilisation Strength