Thermo-Physical and Geotechnical Comparison of Fired Clay Bricks Produced from Oujda and Zayo Soils, Morocco

The use of locally available materials as alternative construction resources represents an effective strategy for reducing building costs and improving the sustainability of construction practices. The present study aims to conduct a comparative analysis of the geotechnical, mineralogical, and thermo-physical properties of two clay soils collected from the North-East of Morocco. To characterize these materials, several geotechnical and mineralogical tests were performed. Particle size distribution analysis revealed that the clay fraction is approximately 30.2% for Oujda soil and 26.1% for Zayo soil. Plasticity tests indicated that both soils exhibit moderate plasticity. Furthermore, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed that the mineralogical compositions of the two soils are largely similar. The thermo-physical properties were determined using the Hot Disk method. The obtained results indicate that Oujda clay soil presents a lower thermal conductivity compared to Zayo soil, suggesting a better potential for thermal insulation. Consequently, Oujda soil appears more suitable for manufacturing building bricks when thermal insulation is an important requirement. To further evaluate their thermal performance in buildings, the experimental results were integrated into a dynamic thermal simulation using the EnergyPlus software. The simulation assessed the heating and cooling energy consumption of a building constructed with bricks made from the two soils. The results demonstrate that bricks produced from Oujda clay provide better thermal performance and contribute to improved energy efficiency.