Analytical modeling of the dynamic thermal behavior of stabilized compacted earth blocks walls for bioclimatic constructions

M’hamed Mahdad; Aghiles Hammas; Said Abboudi

doi:10.35784/bud-arch.7900

Open full text

PDF

Published: Sep 30, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.35784/bud-arch.7900

Issue Vol. 24 No. 3 (2025)

Articles

Geodetic monitoring of the subsidence of a multi-storey building foundation
Oksana Gera, Roksolana Oleskiv, Liubov Dorosh, Mykola Hrynishak, Volodymyr Mykhailyshyn

005-014
Natural and hybrid lighting effects on architecture students' creativity: a case study in Mostaganem
Zineb Derouiche, Malika Kacemi, Okba Benameur

015-030
Smart transformation of cities: the case of the EMU Campus, North Cyprus
Islam Alshafei

031--46
Behaviour of eco-friendly mortar containing recycled concrete sand in fresh and hardened states
Imen Bouldoum, Toufik Boubekeur, Karim Ezziane, Tien-Tung Ngo, EL Hadj Kadri, Jean-Christophe Lacouture

047-062
Fire safety in historic buildings: A case study using the qualitative risk analysis method
Muammer Yaman, Cüneyt Kurtay

063-078
Enhancing the mechanical and durability properties of bio self-compacting sand concrete containing granite industrial waste as a fine aggregate: an experimental study
Mohamed Guendouz, Moussa Hadjadj, Djamila Boukhelkhal

079-099
Reconnecting with nature: reflections of the concepts of biophilia and biomimicry in interior design
Dürdane Aksoy Dolu, Emine Banu Burkut

101-120
Morphological mutations of patios, from traditional to contemporary housing in Tadjmout city (Algeria): implications and considerations
Ali Chellali, Latifa Khettabi

121-144
Analytical modeling of the dynamic thermal behavior of stabilized compacted earth blocks walls for bioclimatic constructions
M’hamed Mahdad, Aghiles Hammas, Said Abboudi

145-170
Simulation-based performance evaluation of kinetic Mashrabiya for thermal comfort and energy efficiency in arid climates: A case study in Biskra, Algeria
Cherif Ben Bacha, Fatiha Bourbia

171-193
Assessing the impact of degraded urban green infrastructure on disaster risk resilience: A case study of Amman city centre, Jordan
Islam Alshafei, Safa' Al-Kfouf, Pinar Ulucay Righelato

195-212
Façade lighting designs in historical buildings: The case of Mersin Kızkalesi
Gizem Nur Özcan, Tuba Akar

213-234
Strength and rheology of cement mortars incorporating quarry and commercial limestone filler
Salim Safiddine, Hamza Soualhi, El-Hadj Kadri

235-253

DOI

https://doi.org/10.35784/bud-arch.7900

Authors

M’hamed Mahdad

mahdadcnerib@gmail.com

Centre National d'Etudes et de Recherches Intégrées du Bâtiment;, Algeria

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6957-0648

Aghiles Hammas

a.hammas@cnerib.edu.dz

Centre National d'Etudes et de Recherches Intégrées du Bâtiment;, Algeria

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3107-2480

Said Abboudi

saidabboudi@utbm.fr

Université Marie et Louis Pasteur; UTBM; CNRS; Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire Carnot de Bourgogne;, France

Abstract

The main challenge in bioclimatic constructions using compressed and stabilized earth blocks (CSEB) is determining the optimal external wall thickness to ensure good thermal comfort. This study investigates heat transfer through opaque walls made with various CSEB samples commonly used in Algeria, using the cyclic admittance method. Five homogeneous CSEB materials were evaluated based on several dynamic thermal parameters: admittance (Y), transmittance (U), surface factor (F), decrement factor (DF), and time lag (TL). Results showed that walls made with CSEB-2 material at 40 cm thickness had the best thermal performance. Additionally, multiple linear regression (MLR) analysis was applied to predict TL and U values, yielding high coefficients of determination (R² of 0.98 and 0.79, respectively). The study concluded that TL and U values are strongly influenced by wall thickness and the compaction energy of the CSEB samples.

Keywords:

Earth blocks, Bioclimatic constructions, Admittance method, Thermal inertia, Thermal performances, Multiple linear regression analysis

References

[1] Briga Sá A. C. et al., “An analytical approach to assess the influence of the massive wall material, thickness and ventilation system on the Trombe wall thermal performance”, Journal of Building Physics, 41(5), (2018), 445–468. https://doi.org/10.1177/1744259117697389 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1744259117697389

[2] Derradji L. et al., “A study on residential energy requirement and the effect of the glazing on the optimum insulation thickness”, Applied Thermal Engineering, 112, (2017), 975–985. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2016.10.116 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2016.10.116

[3] Mokhtari F. et al., “A passive wall design to minimize building temperature swings for Algerian Saharan climate”, Science and Technology for the Built Environment, 23(7), (2017), 1142–1150. https://doi.org/10.1080/23744731.2016.1273020 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23744731.2016.1273020

[4] Toure P. M. et al., “Experimental determination of time lag and decrement factor”, Case Studies in Construction Materials, 11, (2019), e00298. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2019.e00298 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2019.e00298

[5] Turco C. et al., “Optimisation of Compressed Earth Blocks (CEBs) using natural origin materials: A systematic literature review”, Construction and Building Materials, 309, (2021), 125140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.125140 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.125140

[6] Mahdad M. et al., “Thermal performance evaluation of traditional buildings flat roofs in a hot and arid climate of Algeria”, Journal of Architectural and Engineering Research, 8, (2025), 49–61. https://doi.org/10.54338/27382656-2025.8-05 DOI: https://doi.org/10.54338/27382656-2025.8-05

[7] Labed S. et al., “Effect of tomato and pepper stem waste on thermal and physical properties of raw earth blocks”, Iranian Journal of Science and Technology, Transactions of Civil Engineering, (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40996-025-01870-x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40996-025-01870-x

[8] Kallou A. et al., “Performance of compressed earth blocks reinforced with natural fibers”, Budownictwo i Architektura, 24(1), (2025), 25–49. https://doi.org/10.35784/bud-arch.6179 DOI: https://doi.org/10.35784/bud-arch.6179

[9] Marletta L. et al., “Using the dynamic thermal properties to assess the internal temperature swings in free running buildings. A general model and its validation according to ISO 13792”, Energy and Buildings, 87, (2015), 57–65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2014.11.025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2014.11.025

[10] Giuffrida G. et al., “Analysis of the thermal performances of uninsulated and bio-based insulated compressed earth blocks walls: from the material to the wall scale”, Journal of Building Engineering, 90, (2024), 109370. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JOBE.2024.109370 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2024.109370

[11] Abdel Gelil Mohamed N. et al., “Structural, acoustical, and thermal evaluation of an experimental house built with reinforced/hollow interlocking compressed stabilized earth brick-masonry”, Journal of Building Engineering, 86, (2024), 108790. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JOBE.2024.108790 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2024.108790

[12] Ayed R. et al., “Improving the thermal and mechanical performance of cement-based mortars for reinforcing masonry structures: computational and experimental methods”, Energy Efficiency, 17, no. 7, (2024), p. 80. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12053-024-10263-4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12053-024-10263-4

[13] Nematchoua M. K. et al., “Study of the economical and optimum thermal insulation thickness for buildings in a wet and hot tropical climate: Case of Cameroon”, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 50, (2015), 1192–1202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2015.05.066 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2015.05.066

[14] Balaji N. C. et al., “Dynamic thermal performance of conventional and alternative building wall envelopes”, Journal of Building Engineering, 21, (2019), 373–395. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2018.11.002

[15] Ding Y. et al., “Optimization approach of passive cool skin technology application for the Building’s exterior walls”, Journal of Cleaner Production, 256, (2020), 120751. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.120751 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.120751

[16] Jin X. et al., “Thermal performance evaluation of the wall using heat flux time lag and decrement factor”, Energy and Buildings, 47, (2012), 369–374. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2011.12.010 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2011.12.010

[17] Daouas N., “A study on optimum insulation thickness in walls and energy savings in Tunisian buildings based on analytical calculation of cooling and heating transmission loads”, Applied Energy, 88(1), (2011), 156–164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2010.07.030 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2010.07.030

[18] Yumrutaş R. et al., “Periodic solution of transient heat flow through multilayer walls and flat roofs by complex finite Fourier transform technique”, Building and Environment, 40(8), (2005), 1117–1125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2004.09.005 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2004.09.005

[19] Zedan M. F. and Mujahid A. M., “An efficient solution for heat transfer in composite walls with periodic ambient temperature and solar radiation”, International Journal of Ambient Energy, 14(2), (1993), 83–98. https://doi.org/10.1080/01430750.1993.9675599 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01430750.1993.9675599

[20] Granja A. D. and Labaki L. C., “Influence of external surface colour on the periodic heat flow through a flat solid roof with variable thermal resistance”, International Journal of Energy Research, 27(8), (2003), 771–779. https://doi.org/10.1002/er.915 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/er.915

[21] Lu X. et al., “Transient analytical solution to heat conduction in composite circular cylinder”, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 49(1–2), (2006), 341–348. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2005.06.019 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2005.06.019

[22] Shaik S. and Talanki A. B. P. S., “Optimizing the position of insulating materials in flat roofs exposed to sunshine to gain minimum heat into buildings under periodic heat transfer conditions”, Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 23(10), (2015), 9334–9344. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5316-7 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5316-7

[23] Zedan M. F. and Mujahid A. M., “Laplace transform solution for heat transfer in composite walls with periodic boundary conditions”, Journal of Heat Transfer (Transactions of the ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers), Series C);(United States), 115(1), (1993), 263–265. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2910659 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2910659

[24] Najim K. B., “External load-bearing walls configuration of residential buildings in Iraq and their thermal performance and dynamic thermal behaviour”, Energy and Buildings, 84, (2014), 169–181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2014.07.064 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2014.07.064

[25] Evola G. and Marletta L., “A dynamic parameter to describe the thermal response of buildings to radiant heat gains”, Energy and Buildings, 65, (2013), 448–457. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2013.06.026 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2013.06.026

[26] Yuan J., “Impact of insulation type and thickness on the dynamic thermal characteristics of an external wall structure”, Sustainability, 10(8), (2018), 2835. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10082835 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su10082835

[27] Shaik S. and Setty A. B. T. P., “Influence of ambient air relative humidity and temperature on thermal properties and unsteady thermal response characteristics of laterite wall houses”, Building and Environment, 99, (2016), 170–183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2016.01.030

[28] Kalinović S. M. and Djoković J. M., “Analysis of dynamic thermal performance of the walls in residential buildings in Serbia”, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part C: Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science, 235(20), (2021), 4851–4861. https://doi.org/10.1177/0954406220941894 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0954406220941894

[29] El Fgaier F. et al., “Dynamic thermal performance of three types of unfired earth bricks”, Applied Thermal Engineering, 93, (2016), 377–383. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2015.09.009 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2015.09.009

[30] Neya I. et al., “Impact of insulation and wall thickness in compressed earth buildings in hot and dry tropical regions”, Journal of Building Engineering, 33, (2021), 101612. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2020.101612 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2020.101612

[31] Mansour M. and Hachicha M., “The vulnerability of Tunisian agriculture to climate change”, Emerging Technologies and Management of Crop Stress Tolerance, 2, (2014), 485–500. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-800875-1.00021-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-800875-1.00021-1

[32] Benidir A. et al., “Earth construction durability: in-service deterioration of Compressed and Stabilized Earth Block (CSEB) housing in Algeria”, in XV International Conference on Durability of Building Materials and Components (DBMC 2020), 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.23967/dbmc.2020.049

[33] Mahdad M. et al., “Experimental assessment of mechanical behavior of a compressed stabilized earth blocks (CSEB) and walls”, Journal of Materials and Engineering Structures «JMES», 8(1), (2021), 95–110.

[34] Benouali H. et al., “Monitoring des constructions en terre en Algérie. Phase de recherche.”, 2010.

[35] Mahdad M. and Benidir A., “Hydro-mechanical properties and durability of earth blocks: Influence of different stabilisers and compaction levels”, International Journal of Sustainable Building Technology and Urban Development, 9(2), (2018), 44-60,. https://doi.org/10.22712/susb.20180006

[36] Mahdad M. et al., “Etude analytique en régime dynamique des performances thermiques des parois en blocs de terre stabilisée”, Academic Journal of Civil Engineering, 40(2), (2023), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.26168/ajce.40.2.37

[37] EN 993–15, “EN 993–15, Methods of test for dense shaped refractory products – Determination of thermal conductivity by the hot-wire (parallel) method.”, European Committee for Standardization, 2005.

[38] ASTM C518-21: Standard Test Method for Steady-State Thermal Transmission Properties by Means of the Heat Flow Meter Apparatus, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1520/C0518-21 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1520/C0518-21

[39] ISO 12571: Hygrothermal performance of building materials and products-Determination of hygroscopic sorption properties, 2021.

[40] ISO 13786, Thermal performance of building components — Dynamic thermal characteristics — Calculation methods, 2009.

[41] Wang L. and Aslani F., “Electrical resistivity and piezoresistivity of cement mortar containing ground granulated blast furnace slag”, Construction and Building Materials, 263, (2020), 120243. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.120243 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.120243

[42] Yumrutaş R. et al., “Estimation of total equivalent temperature difference values for multilayer walls and flat roofs by using periodic solution”, Building and Environment, 42(5), (2007), 1878–1885. Estimation of total equivalent temperature difference values for multilayer walls and flat roofs by using periodic solution DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2006.02.020

[43] Hall M. and Allinson D., “Assessing the moisture-content-dependent parameters of stabilised earth materials using the cyclic-response admittance method”, Energy and Buildings, 40(11), (2008), 2044–2051. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2008.05.009 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2008.05.009

[44] Balaji N. C. et al., “Dynamic thermal performance of conventional and alternative building wall envelopes”, Journal of Building Engineering, 21, (2019), 373–395. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2018.11.002 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2018.11.002

[45] Shaik S. and Setty A. B. T. P., “Influence of ambient air relative humidity and temperature on thermal properties and unsteady thermal response characteristics of laterite wall houses”, Building and Environment, 99, (2016), 170–183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2016.01.030 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2016.01.030

[46] Asan H., “Numerical computation of time lags and decrement factors for different building materials”, Building and Environment, 41(5), (2006), 615–620. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2005.02.020 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2005.02.020

[47] Moschella A. et al., “A methodology for an integrated approach for seismic and energy refurbishment of historic buildings in mediterranean area”, Sustainability, 10(7), (2018), 2448. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10072448 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su10072448

[48] Ulgen K., “Experimental and theoretical investigation of effects of wall’s thermophysical properties on time lag and decrement factor”, Energy and Buildings, 34(3), (2002), 273–278. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-7788(01)00087-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-7788(01)00087-1

[49] Hall M. R. et al., Modern earth buildings: Materials, engineering, constructions and applications. Elsevier, 2012.

[50] Al-Jabri K. et al., “Structural and thermal performance of sustainable interlocking compressed earth blocks masonry units made with produced water from oilfields”, Case Studies in Construction Materials, 17, (2022), e01186. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2022.e01186 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2022.e01186

[51] Ebrahimi M. H. et al., “Sustainable construction for affordable housing program in Kabul”, Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs, 6(1), (2022), 23–35. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25034/ijcua.2022.v6n1-3

[52] Yu S. et al., “Research on optimization of the thermal performance of composite rammed earth construction”, Energies, 15(4), (2022), 1519. https://doi.org/10.3390/en15041519 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/en15041519

[53] Silva A. et al., Methodologies for service life prediction of buildings: with a focus on façade claddings, Green Ener ed. The registered company is Springer International Publishing AG Switzerland, 2016.

[54] Unamba U. K. et al., “Predictive model of the compressive strength of concrete containing coconut shell ash as partial replacement of cement using multiple regression analysis”, 2021.

[55] Wu S. S. et al., “Predictive modeling of high-performance concrete with regression analysis”, in 2010 IEEE International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management, 2010, 1009–1013. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/IEEM.2010.5674229

[56] Keleştemur O. et al., “Statistical analysis for freeze-thaw resistance of cement mortars containing marble dust and glass fiber”, Materials and Design, 60, (2014), 548–555. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2014.04.013 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2014.04.013

[57] Abellan-Garcia J. et al., “ANOVA-guided assessment of waste glass and limestone powder influence on ultra-high-performance concrete properties”, Case Studies in Construction Materials, 20, (2024), e03231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2024.e03231 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2024.e03231

[58] Fakhri M. and Amoosoltani E., “The effect of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement and crumb rubber on mechanical properties of Roller Compacted Concrete Pavement”, Construction and Building Materials, 137, (2017), 470–484. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.01.136 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.01.136

[59] Montgomery D. C. et al., Introduction to linear regression analysis. John Wiley & Sons, 2021.

[60] Singh P. et al., “Development of performance-based models for green concrete using multiple linear regression and artificial neural network”, International Journal on Interactive Design and Manufacturing (IJIDeM), 18(5), (2024), 2945–2956. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12008-023-01386-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12008-023-01386-6

[61] Chai C. et al., “Statistical modelling of the service life prediction of painted surfaces”, International Journal of Strategic Property Management, 19(2), (2015), 173–185. https://doi.org/10.3846/1648715X.2015.1031853 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3846/1648715X.2015.1031853

[62] Davies M. G., “The thermal response of an enclosure to periodic excitation: the CIBSE approach”, Building and Environment, 29, no. 2, (1994), 217–235. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0360-1323(94)90072-8

Mahdad, M., Hammas, A. and Abboudi, S. (2025) “Analytical modeling of the dynamic thermal behavior of stabilized compacted earth blocks walls for bioclimatic constructions”, Budownictwo i Architektura, 24(3), pp. 145–170. doi: 10.35784/bud-arch.7900.

Analytical modeling of the dynamic thermal behavior of stabilized compacted earth blocks walls for bioclimatic constructions

Issue Vol. 24 No. 3 (2025)

Archives

DOI

Authors

Abstract

Keywords:

References

License

Article Sidebar

Issue Vol. 24 No. 3 (2025)

Archives

Main Article Content

DOI

Authors

Abstract

Keywords:

References

Article Details

License