Effectiveness of Cement and Lime in Earth Bricks for Building Construction

Abstract

Earth, is an important building material which is present in the nature and is available in most of the regions. Currently people demand energy efficient and cost effective buildings that emphasize a healthy and balanced livelihood. In developing countries, a construction with earth is economically the most efficient means to meet the demand of the needy with least demand of the resources. Handmade unbaked bricks known as "mud bricks" or “adobes” are employed traditionally and they suffer from cracks and water attack which in turn need continuous maintenance to keep them in good condition. In order to improve the effectiveness of mud bricks stabilization is being practiced nowadays. This study is devoted to enhance the compressive strength and water absorption characteristics of mud bricks with the use of cement and lime as stabilizers at varying proportions to increase the properties of the basics earth mix for the making of mud bricks. The experimental results show that with the addition of stabilizers to a certain limit lead to an improved effectiveness of the mud bricks.