Open Access
Evaluation of the potential of natural mining by-products as constituents of stabilized rammed earth building materials
(MDPI, 2025-05-06) Martín Antunes, Miguel Ángel; Perlot, Céline; Villanueva Roldán, Pedro; Abdallah, Rafik; Seco Meneses, Andrés; Ingeniería; Ingeniaritza; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
In this investigation, different natural by-products were used to modify the Particle Size Distribution (PSD) of a soil to evaluate their potential in Stabilized Rammed Earth (SRE) building. Three different mixes were manufactured: (i) a mix composed entirely of a clayey soil, (ii) a mix consisting of mining by-products and clayey soil and (iii) a mix entirely based on mining by-products. Unstabilized and stabilized samples of the mixes were manufactured using two cement dosages (2.5% and 5%), and the samples were tested for Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS), soaked UCS, and wetting and drying tests. Mining by-products demonstrated significant potential in SRE building, as their addition to the clayey soil resulted in higher UCS values compared to the UCS obtained from clayey soil alone. Unstabilized samples lost their integrity during exposure to water. The inclusion of mining by-products also showed potential as, although the mixes did not fully meet the requirements for soaked UCS and the wetting and drying tests, the mix containing both mining by-products and clayey soil retained its integrity in water, unlike the samples composed solely of clayey soil. M3C5 successfully met the requirements for soaked UCS and the wetting and drying tests, further highlighting the great potential of mining by-products in SRE building.
Embargo
Valorization of mining by-products for rammed Earth construction
(Springer, 2024-07-27) Martín Antunes, Miguel Ángel; Seco Meneses, Andrés; Perlot, Céline; McGregor, F.; Ingeniería; Ingeniaritza; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
Mining and manufacturing produce large amounts of waste. One effective way for the valorization of many inert wastes or by-products from these industries is their use for the development of sustainable construction materials. This work analyzes the ability of different mix proportions of two by-products from mining, a mining clayed sludge, and a spent foundry sand, for the formulation of a by-products based rammed earth construction material. To achieve this objective an experimental laboratory campaign was developed. First, the physic-chemical properties of both by-products were measured, and the geotechnical properties of clayed sludge especially clay content and granulometry were evaluated. Then, these four by-product materials were combined to create three different combinations of soils with continuous granulometric curves, adequate for rammed earth construction, following the available literature. A Standard Proctor test was carried out to determine the optimum dry density and optimal water content of the mixes. Then, the mechanical strength was characterized by Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) tests. The proportions of the materials with higher bulk density show a direct relationship with the UCS values obtained. Water immersion was considered for the characterization of the durability of the developed material. During the durability test, the samples lost their integrity. This work shows the ability of these by-product mixes to produce even more sustainable rammed earth constructions with 100% of recycled constituents, achieving the mechanical strength requirement, not durability ones. Further investigations are required to improve this by-product made soil durability performance.
Open Access
Mechanochemical activation of non-conventional precursors for use as suplementary cementitious materials
(Elsevier, 2025-03-15) Seco Meneses, Andrés; Martín Antunes, Miguel Ángel; Espuelas Zuazu, Sandra; Fernández Jiménez, Ana; Prieto Cobo, Eduardo; Ingeniería; Ingeniaritza; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC
This work analyzes the effect of Mechanochemical Activation (MA) of a Commercial low-grade kaolinite and low- grade illite, a feldspar, a diatomite and a clayey soil (non-commercial) as supplementary cementitious materials. Milling was conducted at different times for up to 360 min. MA decreased the particles size and increased the specific surface area except for low-grade illite. However, prolonged milling produced agglomeration in feldspar, diatomite and clayey soil. MA partially reduced diffractogram peaks and modified the dehydroxylation losses of mass in the thermogravimetric tests. MA's effect over the solubility of SiO 2 and Al 2 O 3 was not conclusive, with differences among aluminosilicate minerals and with no relationships with their physical parameters or chemical structures. Feldspar was the only one not to show Strength Activity Index (SAI) increases due to MA. Low-grade illite, feldspar and diatomite combinations surpassed 75 % on the SAI. No clear relationships were observed between the combinations SAI and their physical parameters, chemical structure or SiO 2 and Al 2 O 3 availability.
Open Access
A methodology to optimize natural by-product mixes for rammed earth construction based on the Taguchi method
(MDPI, 2024-11-13) Martín Antunes, Miguel Ángel; Prieto Cobo, Eduardo; García, Beñat; Perlot, Céline; Seco Meneses, Andrés; Ingeniería; Ingeniaritza; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarrroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
In this investigation, the Taguchi method was employed to optimize a mix based on four natural by-products for rammed earth construction. Two separate studies were conducted to enhance the dry density and the Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS). The four materials were assessed across four different levels, with moisture content also factored in as a parameter within a statistical analysis of 16 combinations. The Taguchi method predicted the combinations in which the Particle Size Distribution optimized the dry density and UCS as well as their dry density and UCS values. From the results, Moisture Content was the parameter with the highest influence on the optimization as well as the dry density and the UCS. It was observed that there was a direct relationship between the bulk density of the different granulometric fractions and their influence on the mix's dry density. The fines were the material constituents that showed the highest influence on the mix UCS. When using the Taguchi method in RE building, the factor that should be maximized should is the mechanical strength.

Seco Meneses, Andrés

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