Abstract
Cement-soil mortars are commonly used for the construction of soil-cement block masonry. The paper focuses on an experimental study in understanding the various characteristics of cement soil mortars in fresh and hardened state. Workability, strength, water retentivity, shrinkage and stress-strain characteristics of cement soil mortars and bond strength of soil-cement block couplets using such mortars are examined. Characteristics of 1:6 cement mortar and 1:1:6 cement lime mortar are also examined for the purposes of comparison. Workability of mortars has been quantified by conducting flow table tests. Results of flow values obtained for mortars from various construction sites are reported. There is a linear relationship between flow and water cement ratio of the mortars. Flow increases with increase in water-cement ratio. Very high flow value of 130% can be achieved for cement soil mortars and cement lime mortars. Reduction in flow value from 100% to 80% leads to increase in strength and modulus of mortars. Clay fraction of the mortar mix controls the flow, strength, density, shrinkage value and modulus of cement soil mortars. Cement-soil mortars lead to better tensile bond strength for soilcement block couplets when compared to the cement mortar and cement lime mortar.
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