Mechanical Evaluation of Adobe Reinforced with Wool and Corn Husk Fibers for Rural Housing

The structural vulnerability of rural dwellings built with traditional adobe in high Andean areas motivates the search for sustainable solutions that improve their mechanical properties without increasing costs. This study evaluates the mechanical behavior of adobe blocks reinforced with natural fibers such as sheep wool and corn husk, locally available agricultural waste. Five types of blocks were created, varying the wool content (0.2%, 0.4%, and 0.6%) with a fixed proportion of husk (0.6%), while traditional mixtures with ichu as a reference were used. Standardized compressive and flexural strength tests were performed, identifying the mixture with 0.4% wool and 0.6% husk as the most efficient, achieving average values of 1.83 MPa and 0.81 MPa, respectively. These results exceed traditional blocks by more than 47% and 34%, demonstrating a significant improvement in structural performance. Analysis of the mixture confirmed its viability as a low-cost material for rural areas, improving the mechanical properties of adobe and offering an ecological and replicable alternative for housing in extreme climates.