Effect of Sand on the Properties of Compressed Soil-Cement Stabilized Blocks

Lawrence Muhwezi; Stella Eve Achanit

doi:doi:10.11648/j.css.20190401.11

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Effect of Sand on the Properties of Compressed Soil-Cement Stabilized Blocks

Lawrence Muhwezi, Stella Eve Achanit

Published in Colloid and Surface Science (Volume 4, Issue 1)

Received: 26 September 2018 Accepted: 1 March 2019 Published: 26 March 2019

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Abstract

With the growing concern of awareness regarding sustainable building materials and environmental issues, a number of people have resorted to using soil-cement stabilized blocks (SCSBs) as an alternative for burnt bricks. However, these stabilized blocks are also known for their high-water absorption capacity during wet seasons which affects their strength and durability. The study conducted involved a series of physical properties tests of soil (particlesize distribution analysis and Plasticity Index test); mechanical property tests (compressive strength test and water absorption test), which were undertaken in accordance with the ASTM standard. It compared the compressive strengths and water absorption capacity amongSCSBs with a sand blend at different proportions of mixture (10%, 20% and 30%) and those without sand, maintaining thequantity of cement constant at 5%. The results indicated that the compressed stabilized earth blocks using silty clay soil blended with sand and with 5% cement were stronger compared to those without sand. However, the water absorption capacity of the blocks (both with and without sand), revealed no significant difference except for the blocks with 20% of sand which proved to have the lowest water absorption capacity (15%). The SCSBs of 10% addition of sand proved to be the strongest with compressive strength of 2 Mpa. The study concluded that 10% blend of sand could be adopted in block manufacturing for sustainable low-cost housing construction. Having known the strength of these blocks, the users can go ahead and use them in low cost housing construction projects.

Published in	Colloid and Surface Science (Volume 4, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.css.20190401.11
Page(s)	1-6
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2019. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Compressive Strength, Stabilized, Earth Blocks, Sand, Water Absorption

References

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[2]	A. Heath, P. Walker, C. Fourie, M. Lawrence (2009). Compressive strength of extruded unfired clay masonry units, Proc. Inst. Civil Eng.: Constr. Mater., 162 (3), pp. 105-112.
[3]	J. E. Oti, J. M. Kinuthia, and J. Bai (2009). Engineering properties of unfired clay masonry bricks, Eng. Geol., 107(3-4), pp. 130-139.
[4]	A. Guettala, A. Abibsi, and H. Houari, (2006). “Durability study of stabilized earth concrete under both laboratory and climatic conditions exposure”, Construction and Building Materials, 20(3): pp. 119-127.
[5]	F. G. Bell (1993). Engineering Treatment of Soils: Soil Stabilization (first ed.), E and FN SPON, London, UK.
[6]	Rigassi, V. (1985). Compressed earth blocks: Manual of production–Volume 1. (Translated by C. Norton.).Germany: GATE & BASIN.
[7]	E. A. Adam, and Agib, A. R. A., (2001). Compressed Stabilised Earth Block Manufacture in Sudan; Printed by Graphoprint for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization; UNESCO: Paris, France.
[8]	Kerali, A. G., (2001). Durability of Compressed and Cement-Stabilized Building Blocks (Ph.D. thesis). University of Warwick.
[9]	Guettala, A., Houari, H., Meghiche, B., and Chebili, R. (2002). Durability of lime stabilized earth blocks, Courrier du savoir, 2, pp. 61-66.
[10]	R. Bahar, M. Benazzoug, and S. Kenai, (2004). “Performance of compacted cement-stabilised soil”, Cement and Concrete Composites, 26(7): pp. 811-820.
[11]	Walker, P. J (1995), “Strength, durability and shrinkage characteristics of cement stabilized soil blocks”, Cement and Concrete Composites, 17(4): pp. 301-310.
[12]	Morel, J. C., A. Pkla, and P. Walker (2007), Compressive strength testing of compressed earth blocks, Constr. Build. Mater. Vol. 21, pp. 303-309.
[13]	Heathcote K. A., (1995), “Durability of earth wall buildings”, Construction and Building Materials, 9(3): pp. 185-189.
[14]	Burroughs, S. (2006). Strength of Compacted Earth: Linking Soil Properties to Stabilizers. Building and Research & Information. 34: pp. 55-65.
[15]	Walker P. J (2004), “Strength and Erosion Characteristics of Earth Blocks and Earth Block Masonry”, Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, 16(5): pp. 497-506.
[16]	Heathcote, K. A. (2002). An investigation into the erodibility of earth wall units. Faculty of Design Architecture and Building. University of Technology Sydney.

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APA Style

Lawrence Muhwezi, Stella Eve Achanit. (2019). Effect of Sand on the Properties of Compressed Soil-Cement Stabilized Blocks. Colloid and Surface Science, 4(1), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.css.20190401.11

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ACS Style

Lawrence Muhwezi; Stella Eve Achanit. Effect of Sand on the Properties of Compressed Soil-Cement Stabilized Blocks. Colloid Surf. Sci. 2019, 4(1), 1-6. doi: 10.11648/j.css.20190401.11

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AMA Style

Lawrence Muhwezi, Stella Eve Achanit. Effect of Sand on the Properties of Compressed Soil-Cement Stabilized Blocks. Colloid Surf Sci. 2019;4(1):1-6. doi: 10.11648/j.css.20190401.11

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@article{10.11648/j.css.20190401.11,
  author = {Lawrence Muhwezi and Stella Eve Achanit},
  title = {Effect of Sand on the Properties of Compressed Soil-Cement Stabilized Blocks},
  journal = {Colloid and Surface Science},
  volume = {4},
  number = {1},
  pages = {1-6},
  doi = {10.11648/j.css.20190401.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.css.20190401.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.css.20190401.11},
  abstract = {With the growing concern of awareness regarding sustainable building materials and environmental issues, a number of people have resorted to using soil-cement stabilized blocks (SCSBs) as an alternative for burnt bricks. However, these stabilized blocks are also known for their high-water absorption capacity during wet seasons which affects their strength and durability. The study conducted involved a series of physical properties tests of soil (particlesize distribution analysis and Plasticity Index test); mechanical property tests (compressive strength test and water absorption test), which were undertaken in accordance with the ASTM standard. It compared the compressive strengths and water absorption capacity amongSCSBs with a sand blend at different proportions of mixture (10%, 20% and 30%) and those without sand, maintaining thequantity of cement constant at 5%. The results indicated that the compressed stabilized earth blocks using silty clay soil blended with sand and with 5% cement were stronger compared to those without sand. However, the water absorption capacity of the blocks (both with and without sand), revealed no significant difference except for the blocks with 20% of sand which proved to have the lowest water absorption capacity (15%). The SCSBs of 10% addition of sand proved to be the strongest with compressive strength of 2 Mpa. The study concluded that 10% blend of sand could be adopted in block manufacturing for sustainable low-cost housing construction. Having known the strength of these blocks, the users can go ahead and use them in low cost housing construction projects.},
 year = {2019}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Effect of Sand on the Properties of Compressed Soil-Cement Stabilized Blocks
AU  - Lawrence Muhwezi
AU  - Stella Eve Achanit
Y1  - 2019/03/26
PY  - 2019
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.css.20190401.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.css.20190401.11
T2  - Colloid and Surface Science
JF  - Colloid and Surface Science
JO  - Colloid and Surface Science
SP  - 1
EP  - 6
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2578-9236
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.css.20190401.11
AB  - With the growing concern of awareness regarding sustainable building materials and environmental issues, a number of people have resorted to using soil-cement stabilized blocks (SCSBs) as an alternative for burnt bricks. However, these stabilized blocks are also known for their high-water absorption capacity during wet seasons which affects their strength and durability. The study conducted involved a series of physical properties tests of soil (particlesize distribution analysis and Plasticity Index test); mechanical property tests (compressive strength test and water absorption test), which were undertaken in accordance with the ASTM standard. It compared the compressive strengths and water absorption capacity amongSCSBs with a sand blend at different proportions of mixture (10%, 20% and 30%) and those without sand, maintaining thequantity of cement constant at 5%. The results indicated that the compressed stabilized earth blocks using silty clay soil blended with sand and with 5% cement were stronger compared to those without sand. However, the water absorption capacity of the blocks (both with and without sand), revealed no significant difference except for the blocks with 20% of sand which proved to have the lowest water absorption capacity (15%). The SCSBs of 10% addition of sand proved to be the strongest with compressive strength of 2 Mpa. The study concluded that 10% blend of sand could be adopted in block manufacturing for sustainable low-cost housing construction. Having known the strength of these blocks, the users can go ahead and use them in low cost housing construction projects.
VL  - 4
IS  - 1
ER  -

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Author Information

Lawrence Muhwezi

Department of Civil and Building Engineering, Kyambogo University, Kampala, Uganda
Stella Eve Achanit

Department of Civil and Building Engineering, Kyambogo University, Kampala, Uganda

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APA Style

Lawrence Muhwezi, Stella Eve Achanit. (2019). Effect of Sand on the Properties of Compressed Soil-Cement Stabilized Blocks. Colloid and Surface Science, 4(1), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.css.20190401.11

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ACS Style

Lawrence Muhwezi; Stella Eve Achanit. Effect of Sand on the Properties of Compressed Soil-Cement Stabilized Blocks. Colloid Surf. Sci. 2019, 4(1), 1-6. doi: 10.11648/j.css.20190401.11

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AMA Style

Lawrence Muhwezi, Stella Eve Achanit. Effect of Sand on the Properties of Compressed Soil-Cement Stabilized Blocks. Colloid Surf Sci. 2019;4(1):1-6. doi: 10.11648/j.css.20190401.11

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@article{10.11648/j.css.20190401.11,
  author = {Lawrence Muhwezi and Stella Eve Achanit},
  title = {Effect of Sand on the Properties of Compressed Soil-Cement Stabilized Blocks},
  journal = {Colloid and Surface Science},
  volume = {4},
  number = {1},
  pages = {1-6},
  doi = {10.11648/j.css.20190401.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.css.20190401.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.css.20190401.11},
  abstract = {With the growing concern of awareness regarding sustainable building materials and environmental issues, a number of people have resorted to using soil-cement stabilized blocks (SCSBs) as an alternative for burnt bricks. However, these stabilized blocks are also known for their high-water absorption capacity during wet seasons which affects their strength and durability. The study conducted involved a series of physical properties tests of soil (particlesize distribution analysis and Plasticity Index test); mechanical property tests (compressive strength test and water absorption test), which were undertaken in accordance with the ASTM standard. It compared the compressive strengths and water absorption capacity amongSCSBs with a sand blend at different proportions of mixture (10%, 20% and 30%) and those without sand, maintaining thequantity of cement constant at 5%. The results indicated that the compressed stabilized earth blocks using silty clay soil blended with sand and with 5% cement were stronger compared to those without sand. However, the water absorption capacity of the blocks (both with and without sand), revealed no significant difference except for the blocks with 20% of sand which proved to have the lowest water absorption capacity (15%). The SCSBs of 10% addition of sand proved to be the strongest with compressive strength of 2 Mpa. The study concluded that 10% blend of sand could be adopted in block manufacturing for sustainable low-cost housing construction. Having known the strength of these blocks, the users can go ahead and use them in low cost housing construction projects.},
 year = {2019}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Effect of Sand on the Properties of Compressed Soil-Cement Stabilized Blocks
AU  - Lawrence Muhwezi
AU  - Stella Eve Achanit
Y1  - 2019/03/26
PY  - 2019
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.css.20190401.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.css.20190401.11
T2  - Colloid and Surface Science
JF  - Colloid and Surface Science
JO  - Colloid and Surface Science
SP  - 1
EP  - 6
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2578-9236
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.css.20190401.11
AB  - With the growing concern of awareness regarding sustainable building materials and environmental issues, a number of people have resorted to using soil-cement stabilized blocks (SCSBs) as an alternative for burnt bricks. However, these stabilized blocks are also known for their high-water absorption capacity during wet seasons which affects their strength and durability. The study conducted involved a series of physical properties tests of soil (particlesize distribution analysis and Plasticity Index test); mechanical property tests (compressive strength test and water absorption test), which were undertaken in accordance with the ASTM standard. It compared the compressive strengths and water absorption capacity amongSCSBs with a sand blend at different proportions of mixture (10%, 20% and 30%) and those without sand, maintaining thequantity of cement constant at 5%. The results indicated that the compressed stabilized earth blocks using silty clay soil blended with sand and with 5% cement were stronger compared to those without sand. However, the water absorption capacity of the blocks (both with and without sand), revealed no significant difference except for the blocks with 20% of sand which proved to have the lowest water absorption capacity (15%). The SCSBs of 10% addition of sand proved to be the strongest with compressive strength of 2 Mpa. The study concluded that 10% blend of sand could be adopted in block manufacturing for sustainable low-cost housing construction. Having known the strength of these blocks, the users can go ahead and use them in low cost housing construction projects.
VL  - 4
IS  - 1
ER  -

Copy | Download