Abstract

Investigations are ongoing for continuous improvement in the properties of stabilized earth for low cost housing. This research examined the influence of palm fibre on the characteristics of cement stabilized laterite interlocking bricks. Specific objective is to examine engineering properties of cement stabilized laterite with palm fibre additives and to compare the cost per square meter with conventional sandcrete blocks. Seventy-two (72) bricks were produced comprising six different samples using 5% and 10% cement stabilization with 0.8% and 2% palm fibre contents. The bricks were tested for density, compressive strength, water absorption and capillarity. The results revealed maximum compressive strength of 0.1N/mm2, 0.2N/mm2, 0.44N/mm2, and 0.49N/mm2 at 7, 14, 21 and 28 days respectively using 5% cement stabilization and 0.8% fibre content. Similarly, maximum compressive strengths of 1.2N/mm2, 1.4N/mm2, 1.77N/mm2 and 1.85N/mm2 were achieved at 7, 14, 21 and 28 days respectively using 10% cement stabilization and 0.8% fibre content. However,  the result shows that the compressive strength for EHBII,I at 28 days of curing is higher than TDBII  by 0.12N/mm2 which is about 6.9%.  The values of compressive strength at 2% fibre content were significantly lower compared to those with 0.8% fibre content for all the samples. Furthermore, the higher the cement content and age of curing, the lower the density which range from 1720kg/m3 to 1880kg/m3. The addition of fibre shows a reduction of 5.5% in mass at 28 days of curing Capillarity rise of 70% and 61% were recorded for cement stabilised laterite with and without fibre enhancement respectively. Cost saving up to 44% and 51% of 150mm and 225mm hollow sandcrete block respectively could be achieved. The study therefore concludes that Palm fibre irrespective of the percentage addition has a measure of influence on the characteristics of cement stabilized laterite bricks