Effects of Varying Mix Ratio on the Characteristic Performance of Hollow Sandcrete Blocks Containing Rice Husk Ash as Mineral Filler
1,3*Anifowose, M.A. and 2Raheem, A.A.
1Department of Civil Engineering, The Federal Polytechnic Offa, Offa, Nigeria.
2Department of Building Technology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.
3Department of Civil Engineering, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.*
DOI: 10.36108/laujoces/6202.61.0130
Abstract
Rice Husk Ash (RHA) had been greatly studied as supplementary cementing material. Incorporating RHA as a mineral filler in block production will further address the challenges that negatively affect rice industries, which has to do with inappropriate use and disposal of rice residue. Hence, this study investigated the effects of RHA as substitute of Fine Aggregate (FA) in the production of Hollow Sandcrete Blocks (HSB). HSB of sizes 450 x 225 x 225 mm and 450 x 150 x 225 mm were produced using a mix proportion of 1:6 and 1:8, respectively. The replacement of the FA with RHA (25 and 50%) was done by reducing the volume of the FA and replacing it with RHA. The HSB were cured by sprinkling for 7, 28, 56 and 90 days. A total number of one hundred and eight blocks were produced. Density, Compressive Strength (CS), water absorption capacity and abrasion of the RHA-HSB were determined. Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) of the HSB composite was also conducted. The content of FA replaced with RHA lead to a low performance of the HSB properties as against the control. However, the HSB with 25% RHA content meet the recommended CS by NIS for 150 mm and 225 mm HSB at 90 days. Morphologically, the RHA-HSB gain better interfacial bonding at 90 days. The study concluded that HSB produced with 25% RHA as substitute of FA can be used in the application of non-load bearing and load bearing blocks.
Keywords: Fine Aggregate, Rice Husk Ash, Hollow Sandcrete Blocks Properties, Morphology.