Abstract
Rice husks abundance in Nigeria requires the consideration of their alternate economic uses to prevent environmental pollution from the waste heaps, litter and combustion. This study focused on the determination of the feasibility of blocks made from recycled rice husks for building construction. Twenty-four absolute cubes were moulded from a mixture of fine aggregate (sand), binder (cement) and water. These were used for control experiments. Also, 144 cubes of partially replaced sand with rice husks in the steps of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60% were produced and cured for 7, 12, 21 and 28 days like the absolute cubes. They were weighed and experimented for some engineering properties including compressive strength in triplicate. The average values of triplicate readings were recorded and documented. Laboratory strengths result at the 28th day were compared with the reference strength of sandcrete block provided in the Federal Building Code to ascertain the performances of the partial sandcrete cubes. The low maximum compressive strength of 0.54N/mm2 obtained at 30% replacement and 28th day curing showed that rice husks were not feasible for replacing fine aggregate in sandcrete blocks at the percentages tested. This strength value is far less than the minimum allowable compressive strength of 1.75N/mm2 of individual blocks provided in Federal Building Code.
Highlights
Waste heaps from rice husks generates serious environmental disturbance in areas where rice is produced, processed and the wastes are disposed
Laboratory data of experimented cubes were analyzed and the compressive strengths at the 28th day were compared with the reference strength of sandcrete block provided in the Federal Building Code (2006) to ascertain the performances of the partial sandcrete cubes
This comparison was significant to determine the relationship between strengths of partial sandcrete cubes with the 7 days’ strength of control cubes
Summary
Waste heaps from rice husks generates serious environmental disturbance in areas where rice is produced, processed and the wastes are disposed. Stake holders are usually bordered about the disposal of these husks from the environment and ignore the economic benefits accruable from the wastes. Owners of rice-mills do not see economic gain in rice husks, ; they offer them out to free their environments from these wastes. Carter et al (1982) worked on the incorporation of ungrounded rice husks into handmade, kiln–fired bricks. They measured properties like density, compressive strength, modules of rupture, water absorption and initial state of absorption; and concluded that it was possible to substitute up to 50% rice husks (by volume of clay) into bricks without dropping the properties of brick outside the acceptable limits in developing countries
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