Assessment of Polyvinyl Alcohol–Stabilized Compressed Earth Bricks on Performance and Durability of Structures

Assessment of Polyvinyl Alcohol–Stabilized Compressed Earth Bricks on Performance and Durability of Structures | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Assessment of Polyvinyl Alcohol–Stabilized Compressed Earth Bricks on Performance and Durability of Structures Salman Farooq, Zia ul Islam, Muhammad Saeed Khan, Muhammad Umair Umar, and 1 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6555628/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 23 Jul, 2025 Read the published version in Discover Civil Engineering → Version 1 posted 12 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Earth bricks have long been favored in construction due to their environmental friendliness, affordability, accessibility, and thermal insulation properties. However, their low strength, durability, and water resistance limit their application. While fired bricks offer higher compressive strength and water resistance, they contribute significantly to CO₂ emissions during kiln firing. To mitigate this, researchers have explored stabilizing soil with various materials, with cement proving to be the most effective for both sandy and clayey soils. Studies suggest an optimal cement content of 8–9% for stabilization. However, due to the high environmental impact of cement production, reducing its usage in bricks is necessary. Lowering cement content, however, compromises strength and durability. To counter this, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was introduced to enhance brick properties while reducing cement content to 5%. This study investigated PVA incorporation at 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%, and 7% alongside 5% cement in brick production. Among these, 5% PVA was found to be the most effective in improving strength and overall performance. The findings suggest that PVA can be a viable additive to minimize cement usage in earth bricks, offering a more sustainable construction alternative with improved mechanical properties. Earth bricks Cement stabilization Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) Sustainable construction materials Compressive strength Environmental impact Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 23 Jul, 2025 Read the published version in Discover Civil Engineering → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 05 Jun, 2025 Reviews received at journal 04 Jun, 2025 Reviews received at journal 04 Jun, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 04 Jun, 2025 Reviews received at journal 27 May, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 24 May, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 19 May, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 19 May, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 19 May, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 12 May, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 12 May, 2025 First submitted to journal 29 Apr, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-6555628","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":458499575,"identity":"a3b15406-2ac4-4a59-a0fd-7754dd83df46","order_by":0,"name":"Salman 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