Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences: Research Areas

Abstract:
Building collapse has been a cause for major concern due to the colossal loss that occurs when it happens. It hampers growth and development; hence efforts must be made to stem the tide. The use of poor quality materials as a result of poor hygroscopic property can be identified as one of the factors responsible for building collapse in many parts of the world. This study examines the hygroscopic properties of both hollow and solid sandcrete blocks. Commercial samples of both types of blocks were collected from block manufacturers and tested for water absorption, volume porosity and moisture content Laboratory experiment was also set up to obtain values under ideal conditions. Test results reveals that the moisture content of solid sandcrete blocks is higher than that of hollow sandcrete blocks while the water absorption and total volume porosity ratio are lower in solid sandcrete blocks than hollow sandcrete blocks in both the commercial samples and the control experiment. Also the values obtained for all tests in the Laboratory experiment are better than that of the commercial

Keywords: building collapse, quality materials, development, hygroscopic properties and sandcrete blocks

Download full paper