Effect of Cow Dung on Compressive Strength, Density, Abrasion Resistance and Permeability Properties of Earth Brick

Abstract

This research, reports on the effect of cow dung on mechanical and durability properties of earth brick. A local earth was stabilised chemically by Cow dung. A better dry and compressive strengths were achieved, when 20% cow dung (by weight of earth) was used to stabilise earth material. Bricks stabilised with 20% Cow dung contents had a dry and wet compressive strength of 6.64 and 2.27MPa respectively. When bricks were stabilised with 20% cow dung, there was an increase of about 25% in the dry compressive strength over that of the plain earth brick without stabilizer. The 20% cow dung content resulted in lower migration of water into the brick (i e. lower permeability). Also, the abrasive resistance increased with increase in the cow dung content up to 20%. A highly increase of dry compressive strength over the wet compressive strength supported the conclusion that, appropriate building design would be required to prevent the cow dung stabilised earth bricks from coming into direct contact with rainwater. This study recommended that appropriate construction specification is necessary to prevent cow dung stabilised earth bricks from coming into any prolonged direct contact with rainwater.