MODELS FOR PREDICTING THE STRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SAND-QUARRY DUST BLOCKS

📄 Project Abstract

Walls are the basic element in the construction of most buildings. They are often required to be load bearing, especially in low rise buildings (1-2 upper floors). Sandcrete blocks are the most commonly used unit in wall construction in modern Nigeria and, indeed, the entire West Africa. The use of laterite and other forms of walling units, for the construction of modern residential buildings have not made much progress when compared to the use of sandcrete blocks. The same can also be said of bricks. The major advantage of sandcrete blocks is the ease of production and laying of the blocks The structural properties of blocks of interest include compressive strength, flexural strength, water absorption, modulus of elasticity, shear modulus and split tensile strength. Others are density, fire resistance, durability and thermal conductivity. These properties are dependent to a very large extent on the relative proportions of the constituents and the method of production process. Sandcre...