Suitability of fly ash and cement for fabrication of compressed stabilized earth blocks

Abstract

This study is aimed at utilizing industrial waste Fly ash (FA) in combination with cement for production of environment friendly and economically viable Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks (CSEBs). CSEBs are prepared with four cement contents (4%, 6%, 8% and 10%) and four FA contents (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%) and its performance are assessed in terms of strength and durability. Strength was measured using unconfined compression test, and consolidated undrained (CU) triaxial test; and durability was assessed in terms of water absorption test, wet compressive strength test, and accumulated loss of mass (ALM). Unconfined compression test shows that with the increase of cement, strength of the blocks increases for a definite FA content, however, for a fixed amount of cement, strength increases with addition of certain amount of FA, which is defined as the optimum FA content beyond which strength begins to drop. For 4% and 6% cement, optimum FA content was found 10%, for 8% cement, 20% FA was found to be the optimum content, whereas for 10% cement the optimum FA content is 30%. Deformation characteristics of CSEBs with different cement-FA combinations are analyzed in terms of stress-strain response and modulus of elasticity. Addition of proper amount of FA is found to improve modulus of elasticity, peak and failure strain response for a definite cement content. Moreover, microstructural investigation is carried out to investigate the arrangement of soil matrix for different contents of stabilizers. Optimum content of cement-FA obtained from unconfined compressive strength provide wet-to-dry strength ratio >0.33 which is an indicator of better durability performance. CU triaxial test results show that at a confining stress of 200 kPa and 300 kPa, maximum stress ratio and secant modulus occurs at a mix composition of 8% cement and 20% fly ash, which was considered optimum from compressive strength test scheme. Finally, test results were compared with the specifications of various existing standards and it can be concluded that with addition of optimum amount of cement-FA, CSEBs with acceptable strength and durability response can be produced.