Assessment of Compressive Strength of Sandcrete Blocks produced from Sea Sand with Varying Percentages of Mud as Admixtures

Abstract

This work assesses long-term strength and durability investigations of sandcrete blocks produced from sea sand, which appears to have significant gaps in literature. Buildings constructed with sea sand blocks in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria experienced serviceability complications with massive deterioration and degradation of strength in blockwalls that appears in powder form with associated cracks and exhibits failure modes in the buildings due to high salinity. The study focused on the use of 10% and 25% of Locally Sourced Mud (LSM) as admixture in the production of sandcrete blocks with Sea Sand. The mud used in the study was based on the mineralogy content to neutralize the salt in the sea sand blocks. A total of 36 units of Sea Sand blocks; 18 units of River Sand blocks; 36 units each of 10%-LSM, 25%-LSM, as admixtures with Sea Sand at varying curing days investigated. Comparison of 25%-LSM of 4.23 N/mm2 and control blocks of 4.01 N/mm2 at 28day showed remarkably close agreement, quantitatively and qualitatively. However, 25%-LSM addition by volume of Sea Sand produced more blocks in return with a cost saving of 21.4% per bag of cement and Strength of 4.23N/mm2 at 28 days; 4.27N/mm2 at 56 days, 4.27N/mm2 at 100 days.

Keywords — Compressive Strength; Locally sourced mud; Sandcrete block