Performance Assessment of Coconut Shell Ash as Partial Replacement of Cement in Compressed Earth Blocks
Maman Oumarou Aboubacar1, Joseph Ng’ang’a Thuo2, Owayo Alphonse3
1Maman Oumarou Aboubacar, MSc, Department of Civil and Construction Engineering, Pan African University Institute for Basic Sciences, Technology and Innovation Hosted at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya.
2Joseph Ng’ang’a Thuo, Department of Civil Engineering, Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, Kenya.
3Dr. Owayo Alphonse, Department of Geotechnical & Mining Engineering, Technical University of Nairobi, Kenya.
Manuscript received on 12 October 2023 | Revised Manuscript received on 23 October 2023 | Manuscript Accepted on 15 November 2023 | Manuscript published on 30 November 2023 | PP: 26-34 | Volume-12 Issue-4, November 2023 | Retrieval Number: 100.1/ijrte.E799312050124 | DOI: 10.35940/ijrte.E7993.12041123
Open Access | Editorial and Publishing Policies | Cite | Indexing and Abstracting
© The Authors. Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP). This is an open access article under the CC-BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Abstract: Earth construction represents the oldest recognized building technique employed by humanity. However, the use of earth resources in construction is limited due to their inherent weakness and durability issues. The two most widely utilised binders to enhance the characteristics of these blocks are cement and lime; however, these are expensive and sources of CO2 emissions. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of coconut shell ash (CSA) as a replacement for cement in compressed earth blocks (CEBs). The microstructure test was conducted on laterite soil, cement, and CSA samples, and the blocks were tested in terms of dry density, water absorption, and compressive strength at 7, 14, and 28 days. The blocks were stabilised with various cement contents ranging from 0 to 8%. After testing, blocks with 6% cement showed good performances, taking into account the economic aspect. The optimal 6% cement was substituted with 2%, 4%, and 6% coconut shell ash (CSA) as replacements. CSA has improved the properties of CEBs. There was an increase in dry density and compressive strength, accompanied by a reduction in water absorption. The highest strength was recorded with blocks stabilised with 4% C + 2% CSA at 28 days. Based on the results of this study, an optimum of 2% CSA can be recommended as a substitute for cement in making CEBs.
Keywords: Dry density, Compressed Earth Blocks, Coconut Shell ash, Compressive strength, Water Absorption.
Scope of the Article: Civil Engineering and Applications