Use of waste and low energy material in building block construction
Use of waste and low energy material in building block construction
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Date
2013
Authors
Yalley, Paa Kofi Peter
A.S.K, Kwan
Journal Title
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Publisher
School of Engineering, Cardiff University
Abstract
A newly proposed concept of a plastic carton soil blocks as masonry units for low-cost environmentally
friendly construction is proposed. A test system was designed to perform rigorous and comprehensive
measurements on seven types of soil block specimens encased in thermoplastic cartons. The cartons
were similar to “ice cream tubs” of dimensions 165x60x120mm, thus making a building block/brick of
reasonable handling size. Some of the test specimens also had soil mixed with palm or plastic fibres. The
soil content was placed in the plastic cartons and compacted with compaction table and then with a
compression machine before testing for strength.
Thermoplastic carton soil blocks without the addition of fibres as an enhancement were measured
with a minimum compressive strength of 17.5MPa. In the case of the fibre enhanced soil block, the
compressive strength increased with increase in fibre content. With fibre addition of 1.5% (by weight), the
compressive strength of the thermoplastic cartons increased by 28.5% and 38% respectively for palm and
plastic fibres, over the plain thermoplastic carton soil block without fibres. Additionally, stiffness is also
greatly improved.
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Citation
Yalley, P. P. K., & Kwan, A. (2013). Use of waste and low energy material in building block construction. International Refereed Journal of Engineering and Science (IRJES), 2(11), 1-5.