Flexural Strength of Interlocking Compressed Earth Brick (ICEB) Unit

S. Saari, B. H. Abu Bakar, N. A. Surip

Abstract


This paper presents the flexural strength of the ICEB unit. The flexural strength is important in determining the strength of the masonry unit. About 260 units of ICEB consist three type of unit were tested on flatwise (bed direction) and inverted direction, with the different shape at the top and bottom of the ICEB. The unit was loaded at midspan through a steel bearing plate of 6.4 mm thickness and 38.1 mm width. Specimens were supported at both ends which are free to rotate in the longitudinal and transverse directions during the test. The highest flexural strength of ICEB is Wall Brick for both flatwise and inverted direction which is 2.36 N/mm2 and 2.15 N/mm2, respectively. For flatwise direction, Beam Brick has the lowest flexural strength which is 1.55 N/mm2, and in inverted direction Column Brick flexural strength is lower than Beam Brick which is 1.65 N/mm2. ICEB can be used in construction and has the equal properties as other common brick and block at the market nowadays.


Full Text:

PDF

References


C. Bales, C. Donahue, M. Fischer, A. Mellbom, and T. Pearson, “Interlocking Compressed Earth Blocks: From Soil to Structure,” 2009.

J. O. Ukpata and M. E. Ephraim, “Flexural and tensile strength properties of concrete using lateritic sand and quarry dust as fine aggregate,” J. Eng. Appl. Sci., vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 324–33, 2012.

R. A. Silva, E. Soares, D. V. Oliveira, T. Miranda, N. M. Cristelo, and D. Leitão, “Mechanical characterisation of dry-stack masonry made of CEBs stabilised with alkaline activation,” Constr. Build. Mater., vol. 75, 2015.

A. S. Muntohar, “Engineering characteristics of the compressed-stabilized earth brick,” Constr. Build. Mater., vol. 25, no. 11, pp. 4215–4220, 2011.

P. J. Walker and Strength, “Durability and shrinkage characteristics of cement stabilised soil blocks,” Cem. Concr. Compos., vol. 17, no. 4, pp. 301–310, 1995.

P. J. Walker, “Strength and erosion characteristics of earth blocks and earth block masonry,” J. Mater. Civ. Eng., vol. 16, no. 5, pp. 497–506, 2004.

BS 3921:1985, “Specification for Clay bricks”. British Standards Institute 1985.

ASTM C140, “Standard test methods for sampling and testing concrete masonry units and related units”, ASTM standards. 2015.

ASTM C67, “Standard Test Methods of Sampling and Testing Brick and Structural Clay Tile”, ASTM standards. 2014.

A. W. Hendry, B. P. Sinha, and S. R. Davies, “Design of masonry structures.” E & FN Spon. 2004.

ASTM C90, “Standard Specification for Loadbearing Concrete Masonry Units”, ASTM standards. (2014)

Wheeler, Geoffrey, “Interlocking Compressed Earth Blocks Volume II. Manual of Construction.” Center for Vocational Building Technology, Thailand 110, 2005




DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.12962/j23546026.y2017i6.3232

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


View my Stat: Click Here

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.