FUW TRENDS IN SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(A Peer Review Journal)
e–ISSN: 2408–5162; p–ISSN: 2048–5170
keywords: Anthill, sancrete blocks, load bearing walls, compressive strength
This study assesses the early strength characteristics of sandcrete blocks made by replacing fine aggregate (sand) with anthill material. Normal mixing proportion of 1:6 (cement to sand) was used for the production of the control mix and other mixes by replacing the fine aggregate by weight of 10, 20, 30 and 40% using the absolute volume method. Six (6) inches (450 × 225 × 150 mm) blocks were produced from the mixes, cured by sprinkling water for 3, 7, and 14 days and tested for their respective compressive strengths at those ages. Result obtained indicate that the compressive strength of the blocks increases with increase in the anthill content which is here attributed to the increased binding effect of the anthill material in complementing the traditional function of cement in the mix. Results obtained also show that the optimum content of anthill in production of anthill-sandcrete blocks is 20%. This leads to mixes that are of good workability and resulting in blocks also of reduced honeycombs and cracks with compressive strength at 14 days age adequate for use in framed building project with reference to the Building Code: 2000 standards.
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