International Science Community Association Research Journal of Engineering Sciences 2278-9472 11 3 2022 09 26 Effects of rice husk on adobes in clay soils 12 21 EN KPLE Melhyas 1 Laboratory of rural engineering, National University of Agriculture, 01 BP 55 Porto Novo, Benin NONVIHO Guevara 2 Research Unit on Molecular Interactions, Study and Research Laboratory in Applied Chemistry of the Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi, University of Abomey-Calavi (URIM / LERCA / EPAC / UAC), 01 BP: 2009 Cotonou, Benin and Pluridisciplinary Research Laboratory for Technical Education (LARPET), National University of Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics, Lokossa BP 133, Benin DOTO Vivien 3 Laboratory of rural engineering, National University of Agriculture, 01 BP 55 Porto Novo, Benin AZA-GNANDJI Maurel 4 Laboratory of rural engineering, National University of Agriculture, 01 BP 55 Porto Novo, Benin CHABI Edem 5 Laboratory of rural engineering, National University of Agriculture, 01 BP 55 Porto Novo, Benin BAGAN Gontrand 6 Laboratory of rural engineering, National University of Agriculture, 01 BP 55 Porto Novo, Benin HOUNGAN Aristide 7 Pluridisciplinary Research Laboratory for Technical Education (LARPET), National University of Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics, Lokossa BP 133, Benin Mbairangone S. 1 National High School of Public Works of N’Djamena, Civil Engineering Laboratory, P.O. Box: 60 N'Djamena, Chad Ntamack G.E 2 Group of Mechanics, Materials and Acoustics (GMMA), Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of N'Gaoundéré, P.O. Box: 454 Ngaoundéré, Cameroon Bianzeube T. 3 Mongo Polytechnic University, Laboratory of Mechanical Engineering and Materials, P.O. Box: 4377 Mongo, Chad Bozabe R.K. 4 National High School of Public Works of N’Djamena, Civil Engineering Laboratory, P.O. Box: 60 N'Djamena, Chad Kinet O. 5 National High School of Public Works of N’Djamena, Civil Engineering Laboratory, P.O. Box: 60 N'Djamena, Chad > Research Article 2022 6 9 2022 09 26 This work aims to evaluate the influence of rice husk on the mechanical and physical characteristics of adobes produced from clay soils. To this end, rice husk sorted by a 1.25mm diameter mesh screen was used to formulate different mixtures comprising 0%, 1%, 1.5%, 2% and 2.5% by mass of clay. The specimens with dimensions of 4cmx4cmx16cm were produced after 0, 7 and 14 days of maturation of the formulated pastes. The different adobes were tested for water absorption, drying shrinkage and mass loss as well as for mechanical characterization. The results obtained indicate that the linear shrinkage, mass loss and water absorption coefficient decrease with increasing percentages of rice husk and days of maturation. The addition of 1% rice husk to these clay soils improves the mechanical strength. This improvement is a function of the number of days of maturation of the pasta and leads to a gain of 5 to 6% in mechanical strength for the clay soil of N'Djamena. Copyright@ International Science Community Association