THE STABILISATION OF COMPRESSED EARTH BLOCK USING LATERITE SOIL

Abstract

This research essentially focused on studying the performance and strength improvement of compressed stabilised earth block (laterite block) to reduce cost of conventional block production. The laterite soil used was from Infrastructure University of Kuala Lumpur (IUKL) and mixed with fine and coarse aggregates stabilised with Cement and Lime in percentages of 5, 10 and 15 with four different mix ratios. C(i) 50%: 40%: 10%, C(ii) 50%: 35%: 15%, C(iii) 50%: 30%: 20%, C(iv) 50%: 25%: 25%, (C represents Category); these ratios were employed to keep laterite constant up to 50% to determine that which will yield the best sustainable strength. Soil test and classification was done with the following, dry sieving and hydrometer analysis, plastic limit, liquid limit and moisture content - were conducted to classify the type of soil and its content for the benefit of producing building blocks. The results from those tests show that the soil was a laterite soil and clay of intermediate plasticity, fine grained and an inorganic soil. Comparison of compressive strength was carried out with the result from this study and the findings from past researches. Durability test was conducted using abrasive test and the result proved that the percentage of soil particles that were abraded from the resultant block samples after striking with wire brush was low. The compressive strength result shows that cement stabilised sample had higher compressive strength than the lime stabilised and that the strength increased as the curing age increases, also compressive strength increases as the content of stabiliser increased. Category (iii) had the highest strength among the other mix categories.

Keywords: Compressed Stabilised Earth Block, Laterite Soil, Earth Block, Infrastructure University Kuala Lumpur