Improvement of the quality of Angono, Rizal soil mixture used in the production of compressed earth blocks (CEB)

• Main Authors: Genato, Beverly G., Marbibi, Ma. Cristina Lynn C., Tan, Jason A.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1998
• Subjects: Pressed brick; Blocks (Building materials); Potting soils; Civil Engineering
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/10793
• Institution: De La Salle University

This study determined the more appropriate soil mixture of Angono, Rizal to be used in the production of compressed earth blocks (CEB). Proportions of sand, silt-clay, gravel and cement were varied to come up with different mixes. There were six mixes proportioned, evaluated and tested. Their physical and mechanical properties were also observed and recorded. Based from the experiments conducted, the compressive strengths of CEB with well-sieved proportions of sand, silt-clay, gravel and cement were higher than that of the current mixture followed by the producer (FDUP) of CEB in the country. Also, the presence of cement as stabilizer of three mixes produced by the group showed better increase in their compressive strengths as compared to those mixes experimented without the said stabilizing agent. The CEB mixes produced by the research team showed a decrease in their compressive strengths after simulation procedure has been performed on them. Moreso, the said blocks experienced a lot of deformation and disaggregation on their surfaces. The improved CEB mix may be used as an alternative building block for low-cost housing units in the country, specifically, as an alternative for concrete hollow blocks (CHB) in terms of its compressive strength. Furthermore, three CEB mixes of the group is at par if not better than that required by the Philippine National Standards for a typical non-load bearing CHB.