COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH PERFORMANCE OF CEMENT STABILISED EARTH MADE BRICKS FOR LOW COST HOUSING

Purpose: The quest for the government to provide more affordable housing for the masses has necessitated more researchers to continue to investigate alternative means of low cost Building materials. Earth made bricks have been recognized as one of the oldest building material. It is not enough to provide these low cost houses but more efforts should be geared towards durability and other mechanical properties. This research examines performance characteristic of earth made brick to determine the compressive strength and water absorption rate of earth made bricks.

Design/methodology/approach: Samples of earth made bricks were produced using cement as a binder at various percentages of 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%, using 0% as the control. The produced earth made bricks were cured for a maximum of 28 days and the strength was determined at 7 days, 14 days, 21 days and 28 days respectively including its rate of water absorption.

Findings: The result of the dry density test indicates that the higher the cement contents and age of curing, the lower the density. The compressive strength increased as the percentage of binder increased. The result shows that the control mix (NSB) has a maximum compressive strength of 0.01N/mm² at 7 days of curing with steady increase to 0.50N/mm² at 28 days of curing. At 5% cement stabilisation (SB₁), the maximum compressive strength recorded between 0.02N/mm² and 0.79N/mm² at 7 days and 28 days of curing respectively. Similarly, 10% cement stabilisation reveals a maximum compressive strength of 1.10N/mm² to 1.73N/mm² at 7 days and 28 days of curing. While at 15% cement stabilisation, the maximum compressive strength recorded between 1.45N/mm² to 2.01N/mm² both at 7 days and 28 days of curing. However, the result shows that the compressive strength of SB_II increased by 54% while SB_III increased by 14%, indicating that the higher the cement content and curing age, the higher the strength and the lower the density. And also the maximum water absorption of 12% recommendation was not exceeded.

Originality/value: The study therefore concluded that 10% and above is recommended for cement stabilization for the production of earth made bricks in the study area and the various tests carried out showed an acceptable performance standard of the earth made bricks.