Soil-cement Blocks Research Articles

Technology of Manufacturing Hollow Soil-Cement Blocks

The author analyzed technological solutions for the production of blocks from soil cement. It is proposed to make soil cement blocks from portland cement brand 400 in the amount of 20 % of the mass of soil and water. Experimental addition of fly ash to the solution in different amounts depending on the cement content. It is proposed to add ash removed from the Darnytsya thermal power plant, which was sifted through a 4 mm sieve, because the ash contains a significant amount of impurities. The content of inclusions from 1 to 4 mm was up to 40 %. It is proposed to make blocks from soil cement with the addition of fly ash with the aim of improving the thermotechnical properties. It is proposed to make soil-cement blocks with two voids. To ensure high-quality compaction of products in forms, the moisture content of the content for most soils should be within 14–23 %. The maximum force that the sample can withstand was taken as a destructive load. It was decided that the use of fly ash as part of the mixture in the production of soil cement gives a positive effect. With an increase in the period of exposure of samples in water to 90 days, the average compressive strength of soil cement samples without additives and with the addition of the appropriate percentage of fly ash increases.

ENERGY, ENVIRONMENTAL AND COST PERFORMANCE OF WALL SYSTEMS FOR STANDARD RESIDENTIAL HOUSING: A CASE STUDY

ABSTRACT The design process influences the resulting environmental impacts and life cycle costs. Life cycle assessment can assist the construction industry in selecting more sustainable technological alternatives. In this context, wall systems play a significant role in the environmental and economic performance of a building. This paper compares the potential energy, costs, and environmental impacts of three structural wall construction systems (ceramic, concrete, and soil-cement blocks) for standard residential housing in Southern Brazil, considering a 50-year lifespan. The highest environmental impacts are related to the use stage of all three systems. The ceramic brick system presents the highest impact in the product stage, the concrete block system in the use stage, and the soil cement brick system in the construction stage. The concrete block system presents the highest relative net present value, followed by soil cement and ceramic brick systems. The impacts for the soil-cement block system are similar to those for ceramic block, while the concrete block system is the most expensive, energy demanding, and CO2 releasing. The results demonstrate the importance of producing criteria for architectural decision-making based on scientific evidence when choosing wall systems.

Mechanical and Economic Analysis of Soil-Cement Blocks Applied in Rural Housing

Mechanical and Economic Analysis of Soil-Cement Blocks Applied in Rural Housing

Compressive Strength Assessment of Soil-Cement Blocks Incorporated with Waste Tire Steel Fiber.

The rapid growth in waste tire disposal has become a severe environmental concern in recent decades. Recycling rubber and steel fibers from wasted tires as construction materials helps counteract this imminent environmental crisis, mainly improving the performance of cement-based materials. Consequently, the present article aims to evaluate the potential use of waste tire steel fibers (i.e., WTSF) incorporated in the manufacture of soil–cement blocks, considering their compressive resistance as a primary output variable of comparison. The experimental methodology applied in this study comprised the elaboration of threefold mixtures of soil–cement blocks, all of them with 10% by weight in Portland cement, but with different volumetric additions of WTSF (i.e., 0%, 0.75%, and 1.5%). The assessment’s outcomes revealed that the addition of 0.75% WTSF does not have a statistically significant influence on the compressive resistance of the samples. On the contrary, specimens with 1.5% WTSF displayed a 20% increase (on average) in their compressive strength. All the tested samples’ results exhibited good agreement with the minimum requirements of the different standards considered. The compressive resistance was evaluated in the first place because it is the primary provision demanded by the specifications for applying soil–cement materials in building constructions. However, further research on the physical and mechanical properties of WTSF soil–cement blocks is compulsory; an assessment of the durability of soil–cement blocks with WTSF should also be carried out.

Soil-cement blocks: a sustainable alternative for the reuse of industrial solid waste

This study aimed to analyze potential industrial solid waste that can be added to soil-cement blocks. A narrative literature review was conducted in the Scopus academic database, using as the search criteria keywords related to the topic, such as soil-cement, building materials, soil-cement blocks, soil-cement bricks, physical and mechanical properties, solid waste, life cycle analysis, and civil construction. A variety of industrial solid waste that can be incorporated into soil-cement blocks was observed, such as waste rock, sludge from water treatment plants, wood sawdust, polyethylene terephthalate fibers (PET), vegetable fibers from loofah, hemp fibers, rice husks, brachiaria grass, poultry eggshells, sugar cane bagasse, wheat and barley straw, welding slag, foundry sand, waste from quartzite mining, construction, and demolition, mechanical turning, pulp industry grains, and steel mill co-products. Among the investigated wastes, those that improved the physical and mechanical properties of the soil-cement blocks were grains from the cellulose industry, rice husks, Brachiaria grass, steel by-products with granulated soil-cement blocks and blast furnace slag. The waste that produced no satisfactory results was sludge from a water treatment plant, sugarcane bagasse, and vegetable loofah. Through this research, it was possible to verify that the behavior of soil-cement blocks is influenced by several factors in their manufacture, mainly regarding the type and percentage of incorporated waste. However, it is important to be concerned with its application in waste blocks so as not to increase the environmental impacts in the long term.

Influence of Soil Gradation and Moulding Water Content on Fresh Adobe Mixes

The gradation characteristics of soil play an important role in the strength and durability characteristics of soil-based construction material like soil-cement blocks, adobe, rammed earth, mud concrete, and so on. In addition, the water content at which these stabilized soil-cement composites are moulded along with the quantity of stabilizer content also influence their characteristics. The water content at which the adobe is pugged and moulded is also important. The current study attempts to understand the influence of soil gradation, especially the variation of silt and clay content, at a constant stabilizer content on the pugging moisture of the fresh stabilized adobe mixes. The experimental program also attempts to understand and establish the relation between optimum moisture content and optimum pugging moisture, the fresh moulded density etc for stabilized adobe mixes.

Physical-mechanical assessment for soil-cement blocks including rice husk ash

Despite its pozzolan properties, a great percentage of rice husk ash (RHA) is disposed as waste, thus generating adverse environmental impacts. This study was intended to assess compressive strength and absorption in soil-cement block when including RHA as a substitute for Portland cement (PC). This methodology consisted on preparing three mixtures of soil-cement including different RHA percentages as a substitute for PC: M1 (10% PC + 0% RHA), M2 (7.5% PC + 2.5% RHA) and M3 (5% PC + 5% RHA). Results show that compressive strength decreases 12.64% and 26.78% in M2 and M3, respectively. Regarding water absorption, it increases when adding RHA. M2 reported the best results for analyzed properties. However, for both properties, values are present within ranges recommended to be used in construction sector based on Brazilian and Bolivian codes, NBR 10834 and NB 1211003, respectively. Using RHA is viable in order to produce soil-cement blocks as a substitute for PC; however, further tests (e.g. durability, flexural strength, tensile strength, etc.) –in order to determine optimal replacement percentages for quality assurance in produced material- are required.

Avaliação ambiental do sistema construtivo de alvenaria de blocos de solo-cimento considerando diferentes especificações de projeto

Este trabalho teve o objetivo de avaliar os potenciais impactos ambientais no ciclo de vida de diferentes especificações de projeto do sistema de alvenaria estrutural de blocos de solo-cimento. As alternativas avaliadas foram comparadas com a alvenaria estrutural de blocos cerâmicos e de concreto. Foi utilizada a metodologia de Avaliação do Ciclo de Vida (ACV). Foram comparados diferentes tipos de processo de produção de blocos de solo-cimento, considerando um processo manual e outro mecanizado. Foram também comparados dois tipos de cimento, CP-II-E-40 e CP-V-ARI e diferentes tipos de revestimento utilizados em uma parede de blocos de solo-cimento. A alternativa de alvenaria com blocos de solo-cimento com processo manual e com cimento CP-II-E-40 foi a mais vantajosa. As alternativas de alvenaria de blocos de solo-cimento apresentaram menores impactos ambientais que a alvenaria estrutural de blocos cerâmicos e de concreto para a maioria dos casos avaliados principalmente quando o revestimento de resina acrílica é considerado, com diferenças de até 77% para a categoria de Potencial de Aquecimento Global. A pesquisa contribui por mostrar, de forma quantitativa, o desempenho ambiental de diferentes alternativas do sistema de alvenaria de blocos de solo-cimento, para o contexto brasileiro. Os resultados apresentados, especialmente as diretrizes ambientais de projeto, podem auxiliar projetistas e construtores desse sistema construtivo

Laterite soil-cement blocks modified using natural rubber latex: Assessment of its properties and performance

This paper reports the influence of Natural Rubber Latex (NRL) on properties of laterite soil-cement blocks. Optimum cement content for stabilization was determined as 8% by weight of soil by evaluating the critical determinates like compressive strength and weathering resistance. Subsequently, physical, mechanical, durability and thermal properties of laterite soil-cement blocks with varying NRL proportions (1–5% by weight of water) were analyzed. Addition of NRL displayed an enhancement in physical and thermal properties. Improvement in mechanical and durability properties were observed at lower proportions of NRL. An optimum NRL content of 2.5% is recommended for better strength and durability characteristics.

Fire behaviour of ecological soil–cement blocks with waste incorporation: Experimental and numerical analysis

The main goal of this study is to assess the behaviour of soil–cement blocks with incorporation of organic wastes. The problem of waste accumulation exists worldwide and has become a concern in today’s society, leading to enormous environmental damage. One of the possibilities for reducing their environmental impact is the reuse of these wastes in new materials. However, incorporating waste changes the mechanical, physical and thermal properties of the new material. In order to evaluate the potential use of waste in blocks composition, laboratory tests were conducted and the results were analysed. This article presents the fire behaviour of ecological soil–cement blocks with waste incorporation. Therefore, an experimental programme was performed using samples of wall panel with soil–cement blocks. The wall specimen under fire conditions was also analysed by a non-linear transient finite element numerical model, in time and temperature domains, and the numerical and experimental temperature fields were compared.

INVESTIGATION OF APPLYING WILD BACILLUS SPECIES FOR SAND STIFFENING

Microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation is a biomineralization process that has various applications in remediation and restoration of range of applications. In the present study, calcifying bacteria, Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus megaterium isolated from soil (Viet Nam). These species were investigated for sand stiffening using syringe set-up with daily nutrient addition at 7, 14 and 28 days. The stiffened sand samples were tested the physical and chemical properties. The calcium carbonate polymorphs produced by Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus megaterium were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD). These results show that both of the Bacillus species could make consolidation through calcite precipitation at the alkaline pH rate of 9, increased impact strength of the stiffened sand samples. Furthermore, isolated B. megaterium shows it is potential as bio-sealant to enhance the durability of low energy, green building materials (soil-cement blocks).

Effects of soil grading and sand content on soil-cement properties

The effect of soil-cement characteristics, unconfined compressive strength (UCS), dry density, and water absorption on the soil grading and sand content of six groups (natural soil, ≤ 2 mm, ≤ 1 mm, ≤ 0.5 mm, ≤ 0.25 mm, and ≤ 0.075 mm) of soil-cement block was studied. The results showed that the characteristics of soil-cement mixed with sand were influenced by soil grading. Better characteristics of soil-cement soil were obtained when the soil particle sizes of soil-cement were less than 0.075 mm of mixed sand. Every soil particle size has optimal sand content. Results showed that the optimal sand content of natural soil is 40%, whereas those of other soil particle sizes are all 55%. The results also showed that the UCS of 28-day ages is 1.79 times that of natural soil for soil-cement mixed with sand of ≤ 0.075 mm particle group, whose water absorption is 50% that of natural soil as the optimal sand content. Finally, the study of clay content showed that there exists an optimal clay content for various size groups, namely, 9.12%, 7.06%, 8.08%, 9.05%, 11.36%, and 13.60% for natural soil, ≤ 2 mm, ≤ 1 mm, ≤ 0.5 mm, ≤ 0.25 mm, and ≤ 0.075 mm, respectively.

Assessing the potential of sludge generated by the pulp and paper industry in assembling locking blocks

A pulp and paper industry generates a large amount of industrial solid wastes, which are mostly wet sludge, basically composed by kaolin and pulp. The National Solid Waste Policy in force in Brazil instituted as mandatory to provide the adequate destination of this material and to improve the costs involved in the process. The purpose of this work was to analyze the feasibility of incorporating sludge from the pulp and paper industry in soil-cement blocks using 10% cement and 90% compensated soil. In the composition of this compensated soil, typical from the region where the research was performed, sand and 5%, 10%, and 15% of waste were incorporated in the clay mass. Compressive strength, water absorption and durability tests were carried out with loss of mass. The results indicate that blocks produced with waste incorporation of up to 10% meet the technical requirements set by the main international standards, enabling them to be used in civil construction and thus contributing to reduce the environmental impacts regarding the waste disposal.

Adobe Soil-Cement Bricks Reinforced with Recycled Kraft Paper Fibers

Civil Construction Industry impacts significantly the environment, being one of the most critic factors related to elevated production of Civil Construction Residue (CCR). Among CCR produced, the Kraft paper package acquires notoriety, due their large use on material packaging, such as Portland cement and lime, then, present a high production rate and offer contamination potential, lack of collection logistics and nearly any reuse. In this scenario, the study and development of alternative constructive materials which applies the sustainability concept and CCR recycling have acquired great relevance in the sector. It is highlighted the residue incorporation on masonry soil-cement blocks, due its block are not submitted to the sintering process. Then, the present research intend to study adobe blocks mechanical properties based on soil-cement reinforced with cellulose fibers obtained from Kraft paper recycling. The bricks were confectioned with 7% Portland cement content and with 0%, 8%, 10% e 12% Kraft paper fiber addition, being submitted to compressive strength test, water absorption test, durability test with wetting and drying and retraction analysis. It was verified the confectioned composites presented as a viable and interesting alternative on technical and environment range. All studied researches presented null retraction and compressive strength increase on cracked state, toughness increase and good performance about durability.

Durability of Soil-Cement Blocks with the Incorporation of Limestone Residues from the Processing of Marble

The great environmental impact caused by mineral production has forced mining and ornamental stone industries to acquire new concepts and technical solutions in order to develop eco-friendly and sustainable activities. In this context, this work aims to study the durability of soil-cement block with the incorporation of limestone residues from the processing of marble as an ornamental stone. Specimens were prepared with 30, 40 and 50 vol% of residues added to the soil-cement mixture and analyzed for their physical, chemical and mineralogical properties. After the curing period, the specimens were subjected to mechanical analysis and the established experimental program showed that the addition of residues in the mixture becomes feasible for the preparation of soil-cement blocks, exhibiting improved results when compare to a reference block without residues.

PROPERTIES OF SOIL-CEMENT BLOCKS MANUFACTURED USING PRODUCED WATER FROM OIL FIELDS: A PRELIMNARY INVESTIGATION

One of the prime aims of the sustainable development strategies in many countries is toprovide safe and secure environment for their inhabitants. This goal can be achieved through the use ofenvironmental friendly building materials, commonly referred to as green building materials and the effectiveuse of waste materials in useful applications such as construction industry. In Oman, saving the environmentby finding alternative useful methods for re-using different kind of wastes and seeking ways to reduce theemission of harmful gases, and looking for affordable low-income housing for people are of great concern tothe authorities in order to preserve and sustain the environment for the future generations. In order to fulfillsuch objective, research into the use sustainable materials in the construction industry is encouraged.Therefore, in the same context, this paper discusses the preliminary results from an ongoing research studyon the use of produced water from the Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) Nimr and Marmoul oil-fields inthe development of a new soil-cement block which possesses good strength, good thermal insulation andconsume lower quantity of cement than the conventional one. Soil and water samples were brought fromMarmoul and Nimr sites. The initial results indicated that both soil and water are suitable for production ofcompressed blocks with good mechanical properties.

Behaviour of Post-tensioned Interlocking Bricks for Masonry Wall Subjected to Out-of-plane Loads

Objectives: To investigate the post-tensioning behavior of the soil-cement interlocking bricks used in masonry wall subjected to out-of-plane loads. Methods/Statistical Analysis: Three types of wall specimen were tested with post-tensioned forces of 50% and 65% of maximum post-tension force. The wall specimens were tested horizontally after applying the post-tensioning force by applying two vertical point loads distributed equally along the wall. Findings: Results showed that service load and ultimate load for W1 are 6.2 KN and 9.5 KN respectively. The mentioned loads for W2 were 7 KN and 11.8 KN respectively. The maximum deflection occurred in W1 and W2 was 69 mm and 32 mm respectively. On the other hand, the service load and ultimate load for the post-tensioned wall with two tendons were found to be 14 KN and 20 KN respectively. The deflection in both cases was approximately same which it reaches up to 59mm. It can be concluded that post-tensioning level of interlocking bricks should be always from 60% to 65% in order to get optimum results for service ability and ultimate limit states. Application/Improvements: The post-tensioned wall developed using soil-cement interlocking blocks can be used in reinforced and post-tensioned masonry applications instead of conventional brick masonry. The post tensioning enhances the performance of brick masonry.

Mechanical and Physical Properties of Soil-Cement Blocks Reinforced with Mineral Wool and Sisal Fiber

AbstractTo address the large house-building demand in developing countries, soil can be used as an alternative building material because of its high availability as a source material, its ease of processing, and its low environmental impact. In this work, soil-cement blocks (SCBs) with three different contents of mineral wool waste and soil-cement blocks with three different contents of sisal fiber were fabricated, microstructurally characterized, and tested after curing for moisture absorption, abrasion resistance, compression, bending, and accelerated erosion. An increase of 29% in compression resistance was found when 1% of mineral wool was loaded into the SCBs, whereas an increase of 0.1% of sisal fiber lead to a 20-fold increase of the rupture modulus (MR). From the results it is observed that both bending strength and compression resistance increased with the addition of mineral wool waste and sisal fiber.

Embodied energy and carbon analysis of urban residential buildings in Malawi

The rising demand for bricks baked in wood-fuelled kilns in Malawi is raising concerns due to its contribution to fluctuations of climatic conditions locally and globally. This paper presents findings of a study to evaluate the global warming potential of urban houses built of three different building materials. The International Organization for Standardization life-cycle environmental impact assessment approach was used. To obtain lifecycle inventory, process inventory analysis was used, focusing on energy inputs and carbon outputs at the initial construction stage. A functional unit of a 1m2 wall was used for calculating energy and carbon emissions. The results demonstrate that, for individual blocks, kiln burnt bricks (KBBs) consume 0.531 GJ/m2 compared to 0.138 GJ/m2 and 0.106 GJ/m2 for stabilized soil-cement blocks (SSBs) and solid cement blocks (SCBs) respectively. Similarly, KBBs have a higher global warming potential than the SCBs and SSBs. When cement or lime joint and plaster mortars are included, the KBBs contain the highest values for the energy consumed and CO2 emitted. The results suggest the need to switch from KBBs to other energy and carbon efficient materials, as well as a call to sound sectoral policy to tackle the effects of climate change in Malawi and beyond.

Escurrimiento en pavimentos de bloques de suelo-cemento: un abordaje experimental

The article evaluates the reduction of runoff in pavements constructed with rectangular blocks of soil-cement. The tests were conducted in a pilot pavement built with soil-cement blocks, seated in a metal box of 50cm × 50cm (area = 2500cm2), with declivities of 1%, 3% and 5%. Mean intensities of 76.9mm / I 117.7mm / h were used, values close to the intensities calculated by intensity-frequency-duration (i-f-d) equation of the city of Salvador, Brazil, for return periods of 2 and 5 years, respectively. The medium runoff coefficient was C = 0.61, this value is close to the coefficient of pavement with rectangular blocks (C = 0.6) and it has a lower value than the coefficient for concrete block pavement (C = 0.78). On the other hand, considering that areas with more than 2500cm2 are constituted by coupling of area units of 50cm × 50cm, the splash losses are part of the runoff, obtaining the coefficient Csuperficial + splashing, which showed values in the 0.74 to 0.89 range, these values were found close to the coefficient of concrete block pavement (C = 0.78) and below the concrete pavement (C = 0.95), respectively, but factors such as displacement time of runoff on surface, depressions on the surface, roughness of pavement, evaporation and others, should reduce this value. Then, the pavement of soil-cement blocks can be considered in the category of semi-permeable for the area size used.