The article presents the results of preliminary experiments necessary for the foundation of an experimental method that ensures the design and manufacturing technology for a category of composite materials with a mud matrix and agricultural waste insertion. The resources and physico-chemical properties of the mud matrix as well as the resources and physical properties of potential agricultural waste constituents of the insertion in the composite material are presented. The technological variant for the manufacture of the finished product is also presented, consisting of a compression system of the composite mixture in a paste state until solidification with moisture removal (dehydration). From a large number of parameters characterizing the experimental system, few have been varied (insertion concentration in the material, height of the raw material column in the press, raw material density, pressing force), while the quality parameters of the process have only been considered for the capacity of dehydration and material densification. The statistical analysis of the results shows that for the capacity of dehydration and densification, the main input parameters that influence are the initial moisture and initial volume of raw material. Results are obtained that allow the development of a mathematical model for the technological process of manufacturing the composite material. The purpose of the research described in this article is to determine the feasibility and feasibility conditions of the material in its possible variations. This means identifying the insertion concentration and moisture intervals of the material before extrusion, possible. The upper and lower limits of these parameters are sought, so that the material exiting the die does not immediately, or over time, disintegrate, and at the same time, the extrusion process is possible with a reasonable energy consumption.

The article describes the results obtained by the authors in sludge dewatering through new processes and evaluating their performance. The research is part of sustainable development by valorizing the sludge and agricultural waste in composite materials with applicability in the constructions from rural areas. The main method of sludge dewatering tested in this research is vibratory sieving dewatering. The experimental research examined three variable parameters: initial sludge moisture, sieve angle, and the engine speed causing sieve vibration. A three-factorial experiment was performed with four values for each of the three parameters considered, and the results were processed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Absolute and relative dewatering depend the most on the initial sludge moisture and sieve tilt angle. In conclusion, it was found that dewatering by vibrating sieving can achieve an almost double range of values for absolute performance, compared to pressing dewatering. However, the efficiency of dewatering by pressing is superior to dewatering by vibratory sieving. As a matter of absolute values, the two dewatering processes that were studied and described in this article perform below the values achieved by the classical processes: natural, thermal, and mechanical.

The article describes the achievement and values of the mechanical and thermal characteristics of composite materials with sludge matrix and the insertion of agricultural waste, focusing on the compressive strength and thermal conductivity coefficient. These two characteristics are essential for civil engineering applications. The compressive strength and thermal conductivity coefficient depend significantly on the insertion concentration in the composite material: the compression strength decreases, and the thermal conductivity coefficient increases as the insertion concentration increases. For mud matrix composites and seed husk insert, the compressive strength varies between 0.375 MPa and 2.292 MPa. In the case of sawdust insert, the compressive strength varies between 0.149 MPa and 2.292 MPa. These values indicate that composite materials are at the lower limit of strength of building materials, but have good insulating properties due to the low coefficient of thermal conductivity. These features recommend using them for supporting walls in light, floor-free buildings, and for partitions with good thermal insulation properties.

In a global context where sustainability is becoming a priority in construction, this paper analyzes the use of composite materials based on clay and plant waste, offering an ecological alternative to conventional materials. This article analyzes the mechanical properties of composite materials made from clay with walnut shell inserts, shredded biomass from corn stalks, wheat straw, and wool waste. These materials are developed for sustainable rural construction. The study evaluates flexural and compressive strength based on measurements at varying insert concentrations. The results indicate that mechanical strength decreases as insert concentration increases. The materials are suitable for partitions and insulating walls, and in lightweight buildings without floors, they can be used as load-bearing walls if reinforced with wood or metal. Future research directions include improving the estimation of mechanical behavior, studying rheological characteristics under environmental conditions, and expanding the application of clay and plant waste composites.