Durability performance of non-stabilized Compressed Earth Blocks against wind-driven rain

Compressed Earth Blocks (CEBs) have been attracting increasing research interest recently, because of their low embodied energy, compared to other contemporary building materials. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of wind-driven rain on non-stabilized CEBs produced in Cyprus. To that extent, five soils sourced from different areas of Cyprus were used to produce CEBs, whilst the spray erosion test was conducted to assess the resistance of the end-products against water-mediated weathering. Furthermore, durability design for different areas of Cyprus was carried out for a specific earthen structure, in order to correlate the results of the spray erosion test with the desired durability specifications of CEBs for construction. The findings suggest that the majority of CEBs produced in Cyprus can be used in contemporary earthen architecture.