Assessment of Stabilized Earth Blocks (STEB) Strength to Sandcrete Blocks Used in Housing Construction

Ezemerihe Anthony Nnamdi; Nnadi Ezekiel Oluwaseun Ejiofor; Okwu-Delunzu Virginia Ugoyibo

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajce.20221002.16

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Assessment of Stabilized Earth Blocks (STEB) Strength to Sandcrete Blocks Used in Housing Construction

Ezemerihe Anthony Nnamdi, Nnadi Ezekiel Oluwaseun Ejiofor, Okwu-Delunzu Virginia Ugoyibo

Published in American Journal of Civil Engineering (Volume 10, Issue 2)

Received: 15 March 2022 Accepted: 31 March 2022 Published: 28 April 2022

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Abstract

Shelter has been considered as the basic physiological need of a man after food and clothing. The use of stabilized earth soil as construction materials have solved and sustained the housing need of most communities because of its affordability prior to the use of the recent sandcrete block work in our modern construction technology. The research work aimed at collecting and running test samples of red earth soils at minimum of five different location i.e. one per state in the south eastern geopolitical zone of Nigeria, to carry out comparative analysis of stabilized red earth soil blocks and sancrete blocks’ strength in the each of the five states of south east as materials for walls in housing construction. The test samples were mixed with ordinary Portland cement and water at stated proportion, moulded and cured for fourteen (14) days. The weight, force and compressive strength of each of these blocks were tested at seven (7) days, fourteen (14) days, twenty one (21) days and twenty-eight (28) days. This is to ascertain the rate at which they gain strength and their ultimate strength in twenty-eight (28) days. The test sampled crushed at standard organization of Nigeria (SON) workshop laboratory at Enugu Office. The result of the compressive strength shows that all the tested samples attained above 1.50N/mm² at twenty-eight (28) days but varies with the selected collection sample location. The graph/histogram of their respective weight, force and strength were plotted against period of gaining strength. The result also shows that the stabilized earth blocks with mix proportion of 1:12 yield twice the quantity of blocks compared to solid sandcrete blocks (SSB). The strength of the stabilized earth blocks (STEB) compared favourably to solid sancrete blocks (SSB) and can be used as substitute for housing construction for low income group in the area.

Published in	American Journal of Civil Engineering (Volume 10, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajce.20221002.16
Page(s)	70-78
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Construction, Low Income Housing, Sandcrete Blocks (SSB), Stabilized Earth Blocks (STEB), Strength

References

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[2]	GK Benjamin and JO Tali (2018). Adopting Stabilized Earth Construction to address a low – cost housing crisis in Jos, Nigeria. J. Ergonomics Stud Res 1.
[3]	Walker, B and C McGregor (1996). Building with the earth in Scotland: Innovative and Design and Sustainability. Edinburgh, Scottish Executive Central Research Unit.
[4]	Achuenu, E., Olaoye, G. S. and Ujene, O. A. (2007). A Study of Bitumen-Stabilized Compressed Earth Bricks at varying level of Stabilization and Moisture Content. The Professional Builder. Journal of Nigerian Institute of building. Pp 52 – 61.
[5]	C. Egenti, J. M. Khatib, E. Negim (2013). Performance of Compressed Earth Brick in Comparison With the Prevailing Sand-Cement Wall Construction in Nigeria, International Journal of Engineering Research and Reviews ISSN 2348-697X (Online) Vol. 3, Issue 4, pp: (37-41).
[6]	UN-Habitat (2012) Economic Benefits of Stabilized Soil Block Technology in Sudan United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat.
[7]	Oyekan and Kamiyo (2011). A study on the engineering properties of sandcrete blocks produced with rice husk ash blended cement. Journal of Engineering and Technology Research Vol. 3 (3), pp. 88-98.
[8]	Makusa Gregory Paul (2015). Soil Stabilization Methods and Materials in Engineering Practice. Department of Civil, Environmental and Natural resources engineering Division of Mining and Geotechnical Engineering Luleå University of Technology Luleå, Sweden.
[9]	Okwu-Delunzu, V. U, Nnadi, E. O, Ezemerihe, A. N (2022). Evaluation of Stabilized-Earth Block (STEB) as Alternative to Sandcrete Blocks for Housing Provision and Construction in South East Nigeria, Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, vol 5 issue 9.
[10]	Joan Clos (2012) Economic Benefits of Stabilized Soil Block Technology in Sudan United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat.
[11]	Ewa, D. E. & Ukpata, J. O. (2013). Investigation of the compressive strengths of commercial sandcrete blocks in Calabar Nigeria. International Journal of Engineering and Technology, 3 (4), 477-482.
[12]	Mabilong J. Didel, danladi S. Matawal and Emeso B. Ojo (2014). Comparative cost analysis of compressed stabilized blocks and sandcrete blocks in affordable housing delivery in Nigeria. Proceedings of international housing summit on achieving affordable housing in Nigeria, Abuja, 2 – 4 June, 2014.
[13]	R. A. Oppong and E. Badu (2012). Evaluation of stabilized-earth (TEK) block for housing provision and construction in Ghana. Journal of science and technology, vol. 32, no. 2 (2012), pp 104-118.
[14]	I. G. Awolusi, A. A. Soyingbe, and O. O. Oyeyipo (2015). An appraisal of the quality of sandcrete blocks used for construction in Lagos metropolis. Journal of building performance ISSN: 2180-2106 Volume 6 Issue 1.
[15]	Osmani, Mohamed, & Baiche, B. (2019). Attitudes towards earth building for Zambian housing provision.
[16]	Akinradewo, O. (2018). Emerging developments in nigerian construction industry : the. (august).

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APA Style

Ezemerihe Anthony Nnamdi, Nnadi Ezekiel Oluwaseun Ejiofor, Okwu-Delunzu Virginia Ugoyibo. (2022). Assessment of Stabilized Earth Blocks (STEB) Strength to Sandcrete Blocks Used in Housing Construction. American Journal of Civil Engineering, 10(2), 70-78. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajce.20221002.16

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ACS Style

Ezemerihe Anthony Nnamdi; Nnadi Ezekiel Oluwaseun Ejiofor; Okwu-Delunzu Virginia Ugoyibo. Assessment of Stabilized Earth Blocks (STEB) Strength to Sandcrete Blocks Used in Housing Construction. Am. J. Civ. Eng. 2022, 10(2), 70-78. doi: 10.11648/j.ajce.20221002.16

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AMA Style

Ezemerihe Anthony Nnamdi, Nnadi Ezekiel Oluwaseun Ejiofor, Okwu-Delunzu Virginia Ugoyibo. Assessment of Stabilized Earth Blocks (STEB) Strength to Sandcrete Blocks Used in Housing Construction. Am J Civ Eng. 2022;10(2):70-78. doi: 10.11648/j.ajce.20221002.16

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@article{10.11648/j.ajce.20221002.16,
  author = {Ezemerihe Anthony Nnamdi and Nnadi Ezekiel Oluwaseun Ejiofor and Okwu-Delunzu Virginia Ugoyibo},
  title = {Assessment of Stabilized Earth Blocks (STEB) Strength to Sandcrete Blocks Used in Housing Construction},
  journal = {American Journal of Civil Engineering},
  volume = {10},
  number = {2},
  pages = {70-78},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajce.20221002.16},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajce.20221002.16},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajce.20221002.16},
  abstract = {Shelter has been considered as the basic physiological need of a man after food and clothing. The use of stabilized earth soil as construction materials have solved and sustained the housing need of most communities because of its affordability prior to the use of the recent sandcrete block work in our modern construction technology. The research work aimed at collecting and running test samples of red earth soils at minimum of five different location i.e. one per state in the south eastern geopolitical zone of Nigeria, to carry out comparative analysis of stabilized red earth soil blocks and sancrete blocks’ strength in the each of the five states of south east as materials for walls in housing construction. The test samples were mixed with ordinary Portland cement and water at stated proportion, moulded and cured for fourteen (14) days. The weight, force and compressive strength of each of these blocks were tested at seven (7) days, fourteen (14) days, twenty one (21) days and twenty-eight (28) days. This is to ascertain the rate at which they gain strength and their ultimate strength in twenty-eight (28) days. The test sampled crushed at standard organization of Nigeria (SON) workshop laboratory at Enugu Office. The result of the compressive strength shows that all the tested samples attained above 1.50N/mm2 at twenty-eight (28) days but varies with the selected collection sample location. The graph/histogram of their respective weight, force and strength were plotted against period of gaining strength. The result also shows that the stabilized earth blocks with mix proportion of 1:12 yield twice the quantity of blocks compared to solid sandcrete blocks (SSB). The strength of the stabilized earth blocks (STEB) compared favourably to solid sancrete blocks (SSB) and can be used as substitute for housing construction for low income group in the area.},
 year = {2022}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Assessment of Stabilized Earth Blocks (STEB) Strength to Sandcrete Blocks Used in Housing Construction
AU  - Ezemerihe Anthony Nnamdi
AU  - Nnadi Ezekiel Oluwaseun Ejiofor
AU  - Okwu-Delunzu Virginia Ugoyibo
Y1  - 2022/04/28
PY  - 2022
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajce.20221002.16
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajce.20221002.16
T2  - American Journal of Civil Engineering
JF  - American Journal of Civil Engineering
JO  - American Journal of Civil Engineering
SP  - 70
EP  - 78
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-8737
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajce.20221002.16
AB  - Shelter has been considered as the basic physiological need of a man after food and clothing. The use of stabilized earth soil as construction materials have solved and sustained the housing need of most communities because of its affordability prior to the use of the recent sandcrete block work in our modern construction technology. The research work aimed at collecting and running test samples of red earth soils at minimum of five different location i.e. one per state in the south eastern geopolitical zone of Nigeria, to carry out comparative analysis of stabilized red earth soil blocks and sancrete blocks’ strength in the each of the five states of south east as materials for walls in housing construction. The test samples were mixed with ordinary Portland cement and water at stated proportion, moulded and cured for fourteen (14) days. The weight, force and compressive strength of each of these blocks were tested at seven (7) days, fourteen (14) days, twenty one (21) days and twenty-eight (28) days. This is to ascertain the rate at which they gain strength and their ultimate strength in twenty-eight (28) days. The test sampled crushed at standard organization of Nigeria (SON) workshop laboratory at Enugu Office. The result of the compressive strength shows that all the tested samples attained above 1.50N/mm2 at twenty-eight (28) days but varies with the selected collection sample location. The graph/histogram of their respective weight, force and strength were plotted against period of gaining strength. The result also shows that the stabilized earth blocks with mix proportion of 1:12 yield twice the quantity of blocks compared to solid sandcrete blocks (SSB). The strength of the stabilized earth blocks (STEB) compared favourably to solid sancrete blocks (SSB) and can be used as substitute for housing construction for low income group in the area.
VL  - 10
IS  - 2
ER  -

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Author Information

Ezemerihe Anthony Nnamdi

Building Department, Enugu State University of Science & Technology, Agbani, Nigeria
Nnadi Ezekiel Oluwaseun Ejiofor

Quantity Surveying Department, Enugu State University of Science & Technology, Agbani, Nigeria
Okwu-Delunzu Virginia Ugoyibo

Geography and Meteorology Department, Enugu State University of Science & Technology, Agbani, Nigeria

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APA Style

Ezemerihe Anthony Nnamdi, Nnadi Ezekiel Oluwaseun Ejiofor, Okwu-Delunzu Virginia Ugoyibo. (2022). Assessment of Stabilized Earth Blocks (STEB) Strength to Sandcrete Blocks Used in Housing Construction. American Journal of Civil Engineering, 10(2), 70-78. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajce.20221002.16

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ACS Style

Ezemerihe Anthony Nnamdi; Nnadi Ezekiel Oluwaseun Ejiofor; Okwu-Delunzu Virginia Ugoyibo. Assessment of Stabilized Earth Blocks (STEB) Strength to Sandcrete Blocks Used in Housing Construction. Am. J. Civ. Eng. 2022, 10(2), 70-78. doi: 10.11648/j.ajce.20221002.16

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AMA Style

Ezemerihe Anthony Nnamdi, Nnadi Ezekiel Oluwaseun Ejiofor, Okwu-Delunzu Virginia Ugoyibo. Assessment of Stabilized Earth Blocks (STEB) Strength to Sandcrete Blocks Used in Housing Construction. Am J Civ Eng. 2022;10(2):70-78. doi: 10.11648/j.ajce.20221002.16

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ajce.20221002.16,
  author = {Ezemerihe Anthony Nnamdi and Nnadi Ezekiel Oluwaseun Ejiofor and Okwu-Delunzu Virginia Ugoyibo},
  title = {Assessment of Stabilized Earth Blocks (STEB) Strength to Sandcrete Blocks Used in Housing Construction},
  journal = {American Journal of Civil Engineering},
  volume = {10},
  number = {2},
  pages = {70-78},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajce.20221002.16},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajce.20221002.16},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajce.20221002.16},
  abstract = {Shelter has been considered as the basic physiological need of a man after food and clothing. The use of stabilized earth soil as construction materials have solved and sustained the housing need of most communities because of its affordability prior to the use of the recent sandcrete block work in our modern construction technology. The research work aimed at collecting and running test samples of red earth soils at minimum of five different location i.e. one per state in the south eastern geopolitical zone of Nigeria, to carry out comparative analysis of stabilized red earth soil blocks and sancrete blocks’ strength in the each of the five states of south east as materials for walls in housing construction. The test samples were mixed with ordinary Portland cement and water at stated proportion, moulded and cured for fourteen (14) days. The weight, force and compressive strength of each of these blocks were tested at seven (7) days, fourteen (14) days, twenty one (21) days and twenty-eight (28) days. This is to ascertain the rate at which they gain strength and their ultimate strength in twenty-eight (28) days. The test sampled crushed at standard organization of Nigeria (SON) workshop laboratory at Enugu Office. The result of the compressive strength shows that all the tested samples attained above 1.50N/mm2 at twenty-eight (28) days but varies with the selected collection sample location. The graph/histogram of their respective weight, force and strength were plotted against period of gaining strength. The result also shows that the stabilized earth blocks with mix proportion of 1:12 yield twice the quantity of blocks compared to solid sandcrete blocks (SSB). The strength of the stabilized earth blocks (STEB) compared favourably to solid sancrete blocks (SSB) and can be used as substitute for housing construction for low income group in the area.},
 year = {2022}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Assessment of Stabilized Earth Blocks (STEB) Strength to Sandcrete Blocks Used in Housing Construction
AU  - Ezemerihe Anthony Nnamdi
AU  - Nnadi Ezekiel Oluwaseun Ejiofor
AU  - Okwu-Delunzu Virginia Ugoyibo
Y1  - 2022/04/28
PY  - 2022
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajce.20221002.16
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajce.20221002.16
T2  - American Journal of Civil Engineering
JF  - American Journal of Civil Engineering
JO  - American Journal of Civil Engineering
SP  - 70
EP  - 78
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-8737
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajce.20221002.16
AB  - Shelter has been considered as the basic physiological need of a man after food and clothing. The use of stabilized earth soil as construction materials have solved and sustained the housing need of most communities because of its affordability prior to the use of the recent sandcrete block work in our modern construction technology. The research work aimed at collecting and running test samples of red earth soils at minimum of five different location i.e. one per state in the south eastern geopolitical zone of Nigeria, to carry out comparative analysis of stabilized red earth soil blocks and sancrete blocks’ strength in the each of the five states of south east as materials for walls in housing construction. The test samples were mixed with ordinary Portland cement and water at stated proportion, moulded and cured for fourteen (14) days. The weight, force and compressive strength of each of these blocks were tested at seven (7) days, fourteen (14) days, twenty one (21) days and twenty-eight (28) days. This is to ascertain the rate at which they gain strength and their ultimate strength in twenty-eight (28) days. The test sampled crushed at standard organization of Nigeria (SON) workshop laboratory at Enugu Office. The result of the compressive strength shows that all the tested samples attained above 1.50N/mm2 at twenty-eight (28) days but varies with the selected collection sample location. The graph/histogram of their respective weight, force and strength were plotted against period of gaining strength. The result also shows that the stabilized earth blocks with mix proportion of 1:12 yield twice the quantity of blocks compared to solid sandcrete blocks (SSB). The strength of the stabilized earth blocks (STEB) compared favourably to solid sancrete blocks (SSB) and can be used as substitute for housing construction for low income group in the area.
VL  - 10
IS  - 2
ER  -

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