Enhancing the Properties of Soil Bricks by Stabilizing with Corn Husk Ash
Enhancing the Properties of Soil Bricks by Stabilizing with Corn Husk Ash
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Date
2013
Authors
Yalley, Paa Kofi Peter
Asiedu, Emmanuel
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Publisher
Civil and Environmental Research
Abstract
A study was conducted to investigate the potential of corn husk ash as an enhancer for the production of soil
blocks for low cost housing. Five different levels of stabilisation (0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%) using corn husk
ash were adopted for this study. Fifteen blocks were moulded for each stabilisation level. In all a total of 75
blocks were moulded and subjected to the compressive strength, abrasion resistance and water absorption by
capillarity tests after curing for 28 days and compared with the relevant standards of compressive earth blocks.
In general, there was a significant improvement in the compressive strength characteristics of the stabilized soil
blocks. From the compressive strength test results, compressive strengths of 4.177MPa, 4.380MPa and
4.053MPa were obtained for blocks admixed with 0%, 5% and 10% corn husk ash respectively. Soil blocks
mixed with 20% corn husk ash had the highest compressive strength of 5.311MPa followed by blocks which had
15% corn husk ash addition also with a compressive strength of 4.917MPa. The water exclusion and the abrasion
resistance properties also showed significant improvement as the quantity of corn husk ash increases. There was
a significantly strong negative correlation of 0.754 existed between the abrasion coefficients and the water
absorption coefficients of the soil blocks. Stabilizing of soil with corn husk ash can improve the properties of soil
and soil blocks making the suitable for use as a building material for the construction of load bearing walls.
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Citation
Yalley, P. P. K., & Asiedu, E. (2013). Enhancing the properties of soil bricks by stabilizing with corn husk ash. Civil and Environmental Research, 3(11), 43-52.