COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF MARKETED SANDCRETE BLOCKS PRODUCED IN YOLA, NIGERIA

  ^*1Hijab Mahmoud, ²Halilu A. Hamma  and ³Hadi A. Abba

*Department of Civil Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Yola, Nigeria

Works Department F.C.E. Yola, Adamawa State

Department of Civil Engineering, Kaduna Polytechnic, Nigeria

E-mail:hijabmahmoud@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Sandcrete blocks are widely used as walling units in Nigeria. This paper investigates the strength characteristics of sandcrete blocks in Yola (8⁰36’47” N 12⁰19’14” E) metropolis. Two sets(150mm and 225mm) of  Five Sandcrete blocks each were randomly selected from each manufacturer and soil samples were also obtained from source and transported to Civil engineering Laboratory, Federal University of Technology, Yola. Compressive strength test was carried out on the blocks at 28 days and sieve analysis was also carried out on the soil samples. The study confirmed that the quality of aggregates used is suitable for block making. The compressive strength of the Sandcrete blocks is below standard recommended by the Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS) 87:2000. The compressive strength of individual blocks ranges from 0.12N/mm²   to 1.46 N/mm² for the 150mm (6” width) and for the 225mm (9” width) ranges from 0.31 N/mm² to 1.36 N/mm² . The average compressive strength for all the blocks varied from 0.18 N/mm² to 1.38 N/mm². Blocks produced were also found to be unsuitable for use as load bearing walls. Proper curing and quality control was suggested to improve on the quality.

Keywords: Compressive Strength; Aggregates; Sieve Analysis; Quality Control; Curing.