Performance of Compressed Stabilised Earth Blocks with Rice Husk Ash
P. Asha *
St. Peter’s Institute of Higher Education and Research, Avadi, Chennai – 600054, India.
K. Johnson
St. Peter’s Institute of Higher Education and Research, Avadi, Chennai – 600054, India.
C. M. Sachin
St. Peter’s Institute of Higher Education and Research, Avadi, Chennai – 600054, India.
V. Vetrivel
St. Peter’s Institute of Higher Education and Research, Avadi, Chennai – 600054, India.
E. Prasanna
St. Peter’s Institute of Higher Education and Research, Avadi, Chennai – 600054, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This study investigated the feasibility of using Rice Husk Ash (RHA) as a partial replacement of cement in the stabilization of clay soil for the production of compressed earth blocks. Varying levels of percentage replacement of cement with rice husk ash in range of 0%, 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, 10% and 12.5% was used. From the compressive strength test results, compressive strengths of 2.07 MPa, 1.64 MPa, 1.74 MPa, 1.90 MPa and 1.50 MPa were obtained for blocks admixed with 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, 10% and 12.5% respectively. Water absorption was found to increase steadily with increase in percent of rice husk ash and value is 8.55% for the block with 12.5% RHA. Unit weight of blocks decreased with increase in percent of rice husk ash.
Keywords: Compressive strength, water absorption, blocks, rice husk ash, unit weight