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

Article Title: Effect of Rice Husk Ash and Saw Dust Ash Blend on the Compressive Strength of Sandcrete Blocks
by Obam, Ogah and Orie, Ogheneale

Abstract:
In order to mitigate the depletion of energy level in the Earth, researchers are investigating the efficacy of recycled materials. The suitability of Rice Husk Ash (RHA) and Saw Dust Ash (SDA)blend, which are waste materials from the Agricultural and Timber Industries respectively, as partial replacement of Ordinary Portland cement in the production of sandcrete hollow blocks has been investigated. The cost of construction materials include cement is on the rise, beyond the reach of many people, especially in the developing countries. Rice husks and Saw dusts are waste materials in abundance in Nigeria. They constitute nuisance end environmental hazard. Converting these materials into cement would bring down the cost of housing and reduce their nuisance to the environment. Laboratory experimental procedures were used to replace Ordinary Portland cement with varying proportions of rice husk ash RHA and sawdust ash SDA blend in mortar mix to produce sandcrete blocks. The specific gravity of SDA and RHA were found to be 2.0 and 2.1 respectively. Optimum water- cement ratio of 0.7 was found suitable for the block mix. The strength of 2.4N/mm2 found for 35% RHA and SDA met the minimum Nigeria Federal Ministry of Works requirement of 1.7 N/mm2. Sandcrete blocks are inevitable construction materials in civil engineering especially in structures. The recycling of rice husk and sawdust waste will contribute to conservation of the fast depleting Earth�s resources.

Keywords: saw dust ash, rice husk ash, waste, block, and compressive strength

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