ABSTRACT
This study evaluated the strength and durability of cassava starch stabilized compressed earth bricks at 3 different size ranges. Laterite obtained locally from Zaria was sieved into 3 constituent grain sizes ranges of ≤ 2.36mm, ≤ 1.18mm and ≤ 600µm.
Earth bricks of size 140mm × 140mm × 80mm were produced with earth brick production through the application of a pressure of 4N/mm2.
The bricks were produced at 6 different stabilization levels with cassava starch as stabilizer for all the grain size combinations.
The level is; 0%, 4%, 8%, 12%, 16% and 20%. Result shows that cassava starch stabilized bricks attained a maximum compressive strength of 1.83N/mm2 at 28 days strength gain. This is 10.9% higher than the NBRRI specified minimum strength of 1.65N/mm2 for compressed stabilized earth .
The study also reveals grain size ≤ 2.36mm and 20% stabilization as the overall best grain size combination and stabilization level respectively. Maximum water absorption of 13.23% was revealed at 28 days curing period while a good abrasion resistance accounting for 0.15% loss in weight was attained.
The study therefore concluded that earth bricks produces with soil grain size ≤ 2.36mm and stabilized at 20% cassava starch content are of satisfactory strength and abrasion resistance and therefore recommended for use as interior walls and in areas of low exposure to moisture.
INTRODUCTION
Earth as a building material is available everywhere. In developing countries, earth construction is economically the most efficient means to house the greatest number of people with the least demand of resources (Al-Sakkaf, 2009).
Traditional earth construction materials such as adobe bricks suffer from moisture attack and cracks, thus the need to continuously maintain them in order to keep them in good condition.
According to Adam and Agips (2001), traditional earth construction technology has undergone considerable developments that enhance earth’s durability and quality as a construction material for lowcost buildings.
Such methods include rammed earth and machine pressed compressed stabilized earth bricks. Stabilization of these earth bricks is achieved using various methods that often involve the use of a variety of stabilizers.
Adam and Agip (2001) identified these stabilizers to include artificial ones such as Portland cement and lime and the natural ones such as agricultural waste amongst others.
Cassava starch which is the stabilizer in view in this research was recently evaluated for its suitability as stabilizer and found to improve some mechanical properties of selected soil types (Khalil 2005). Incidentally the abundance of the cassava crop in Nigeria is not in doubt.
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StudentsandScholarship Team.
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