Compressed Stabilized Earth Block using Fly Ash and Quarry Dust

Abstract

Buildings made of earth material is an attempt for sustainable development to overcome the threats of rapid pollution rate caused by huge application of cement in construction industry almost in all forms as building blocks, all kinds of structural elements and infrastructure. The main objective of this project is to identify the better stabilization material for stabilized earth blocks for partial replacement of cement in the manufacture of CSEB’s. The scope of work is to achieve a harmonious integrated performance of buildings with physical environment by using natural earth material for preparing building blocks. In this project fly ash and quarry dust has been compared to find out the most suited stabilization material for CSEB’s providing efficiency as well as sustainability as a substitute material for cement. In this project CSEB’s prepared using 70% laterite soil and 30% of cement has been compared with specimens in which cement is replaced with fly ash and quarry dust in ranges of 10% and 20% of its weight. The 28 days compressive strength results shows 12.5% increase in strength for 10% optimum replacement of cement using fly ash and about 7.5% increase in strength for 10% optimum replacement of cement using quarry dust. The reduced water absorption has been notified in CSEB’s using fly ash and quarry dust which will facilitate good bonding with fresh mortar by avoiding high rate of water absorption from fresh mortar by blocks finding its effective application in construction of load bearing walls for general buildings.