Durability Assessment of Silica-Sand Blended Laterite-Cement Bricks

Abstract

Standards and codes which are primary guidelines for meeting minimum strength requirement for laterite-cement bricks present erodibility problems in tropical environment. This impede the long term performance of load bearing laterite-cement bricks. The paper aims to assess durability performance of silica-sand blended laterite-cement bricks arising from component mixture selection process. The domain of mixture combinations to enhance a good performance was developed using the Mixture Method to test the durability performance of brick samples produced primarily using the ASTM D559-2003 and ASTM C97-02. The limiting requirements for both strength and durability were validated using NIS 87-2006 standard and other codes based on the domains of component mixture considered. This study is however, applicable to the hydraulically compressed Hydraform brick machine capable of exerting a compactive force of 10 MN/m2 with particular reference to blending composite mixture using silica sand. The study has shown that component mixture selections within a cement content of 8-20 percent would enhance the durability of walls built with silica-sand blended laterite-cement bricks thus yielding a percentage particle eroded and water absorption less than 10% which was satisfied within the domain of constituents‟ proportions selected.