Study of Workmanship on The Construction of Sub-City Office Buildings in Addis Ababa
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Date
2018-06
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Publisher
AAU
Abstract
Though cement is a popular stabilizer used in manufacturing of Compressed Stabilized Earth
Blocks (CSEBs), much effort had not been done in utilizing lime in combination with cement.
This research is intended to provide detailed technical and production cost information on the
production of compressed cement and lime stabilized earth blocks to use as alternative wall
making material. Laboratory tests conducted on the soil used for the research provided detailed
information on the soils grading, plasticity, chemical composition and the result proved the soil‟s
suitability for block production. The investigation has revealed that from the blocks produced at
the varying total stabilizer contents from 4% in increments of 2% up to 10% at constant
compressive pressure of 10MPa, the blocks stabilized with cement in combination with lime
have an increased 56
th
day compressive strength than that of the blocks stabilized with cement
only. The water absorption of the blocks stabilized with lime in combination with cement is
lower than that of the blocks stabilized with cement only. Increment of compaction pressure with
the same stabilizer content, have shown an increased compressive strength. Lime from two
sources was used on this research, one from local market and the other form lime manufacturing
factory (Senkale lime). Comparisons of the effects of lime, lime from source one (Generic lime)
and Senkale lime showed that, Senkale lime has shown better stabilization effect based on the
compressive strength of blocks and blocks water absorption test results. The cost of compressed
earth blocks stabilized with lime in combination with cement is a higher than compressed earth
blocks stabilized with lime, since the current price of lime is higher than that of cement. The cost
comparison with the conventional wall making material, hollow concrete blocks, has revealed
that CSEBs is preferred because it is more economical walling material in itself and permits the
use of economical building techniques. This experimental study on CSEB prepared using lime as
a replacement to cement in certain proportions has brought out the effectiveness of lime with
cement in improving the 56
th
day compressive strength than using cement alone. The research
findings show a need to relook at the grading of ingredients and quantity of stabilizers for
achieving good building blocks.
Description
Keywords
Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks, cement, lime, soil stabilization, compressive strength, water absorption