Identification of soil property impacts on manufacturing of high strength soil bricks in selected areas of Hambanthota and Ratnapura Districts

Abstract

Soil Cement Bricks (SCB) are cost effective, energy efficient and environmental friendly alternative building material which address the problems related to fired clay bricks such as costly masonry, high energy usage and other environmental problems. Characteristics of soil have a great influence on the strength and performance of SCB. This paper presents an experimental study carried out on the influence of soil properties on the characteristics of SCB. Eight soil samples, collected from the soil excavation sites located at Hambanthota and Ratnapura districts were used to produce bricks with 10% of ordinary portland cement and a 1.8:1 volume compaction ratio through a locally fabricated pressing machine. Dry and wet compressive strengths and water absorption of the bricks were analyzed with physical properties of the soils. In this study, it was depicted that well graded soils with high coefficient of uniformity and plasticity index lower than 15% are suitable for manufacturing high strength, durable and quality SCB.