STUDY OF COMPRESSED STABILIZED EARTH BLOCKS

Abstract

Study is carried out mainly to find out a proper mix proportion to locally available materials such as soil, silt, clay, grits, coir, etc. with lime for making stabilized earth block for construction of inexpensive residential houses. The local soil and clay in and around local area of Pune district was mixed with the local silt, to make a composite of lime 15 %, soil 50 %, river silt 5%, fly ash 30 %,& chemicals(Na2SiO3&NaOH)for compacted stabilized earth blocks (CSEB).1 Blocks of 254 mm x 127 mm x 76 mm size,were prepared with varying percent of materials. We will test properties of natural soil such as a plasticity index, liquid limit, gradation and shrinkage limit.The blocks were cured and tested for compressive strength, waterabsorption and density. Based on the results, it has been concluded that the compactedlime stabilized earth blocks both with coir fibermay beacost effective andeco-friendly substitute to the burnt clay bricks in lightly loaded houses (ruralareas) where stability is not a governing factor.