TECHNIQUES FOR IMPROVING ADOBE BLOCKS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS IN PLATEAU STATE

Thesis Abstract

                  ABSTRACT

 The two important areas in the housing sector are the promotion of building material units using local materials consistent with ecological balance, and the production of building materials with low energy inputs which substitute for energy intensive building materials. Common burnt clay bricks are increasingly becoming costly due to excessive cost of fuel to burn them and not many suitable brick earths are found everywhere. Stabilized adobe block could be an economic alternative to the traditional brick. This study attempted to use cow dung and digitaria exilis straw as stabilizing agent for adobe to find out whether there is a significant improvement in strengths for use in construction of buildings in Plateau State. The main focus of the study was to determine its compressive, shear, tensile strengths and water absorption of the specimen produced. 280 samples at mix proportions of ( 13 and 14) of digitaria exilis to adobe and cow dung to adobe respectively were produced and subjected to a curing periods of 28 days after which they were subjected to laboratory tests. The results showed that the blocks produced from both additives at specified ratios were poor in shear and tensile strength. However, adobe blocks produced from mixture of digitaria exilis straw and cow dung at mix proportions of 14 and 13 respectively indicates an acceptable strength and has low water absorption which complied with the British Standard. Hence could be recommended for Non Load be