Abstract
Commercially available sandcrete blocks produced in Abuja municipal area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nigeria was investigated, to ascertain their suitability for use as side drain walling material. Block samples produced using a standard mix (SM) ratio of cement: sand of 1: 6 and block samples obtained from five different commercial sandcrete block producing factories, labelled A, B, C, D, and E were obtained and subjected to compressive and water absorption tests. Blocks produced with the standard mix ratio, and those obtained from factory A, B, C, D and E have 28 day average compressive strength values of 0.65, 0.56, 0.56, 0.98 0.94 and 2.89 N/mm2 respectively, and water absorption values of 8. 6, 9.4, 9.5, 8.1, 7.8 and 5.1 % respectively. Based on results of test commercially available sandcrete blocks in Abuja Municipal area are and blocks produced with the standard mix of (1:6) are not suitable for use as side drain walling materials. Suitability of commercially available sandcrete blocks for use as side drain walling material can be enhanced if a mix proportion richer than the standard mix is used in block production.Keywords: Sandcrete blocks, Side drain, Compressive Strength, Water absorption
Highlights
Longitudinal or side drains are very important components of highway
The former was carried out to determine the materials used in block production, the mix ratio of the blocks produced, the batching method used, the quantity of water added to each mix, the curing method and duration
The use of river sand was considered in this study because it was more economical and low strength was reported to be associated with their usage in sandcrete block production
Summary
Longitudinal or side drains are very important components of highway. Part of the rain water flows from the carriage way and adjoining land into the longitudinal or side drains. A typical side drain is made up of the floor and walls. The floor is normally made of reinforced concrete, while the wall can be made up of reinforced concrete, crushed stones, or sandcrete blocks. Sandcrete blocks are commonly used as side drain walling materials where economics is not in favour of reinforced concrete walls. Sandcrete blocks with its voids filled with weak concrete mix are normally used as alternative side drain walling materials on street pavement
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