DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE OF MACHINERY FOR MASS PRODUCTION OF SOIL BLOCKS FOR LOW COST HOUSES

Authors

  • M. E. IBRAHIM Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute. Author
  • J. A. S. ALI Mechanical Engineering Department, Federal University Of Technology, Yola. Author
  • F. I. APEH Mechanical Engineering Department, Federal University Of Technology, Yola. Author

Abstract

This paper explains the methods adopted for the local design and fabrication of machine for mass production of quality soil stabilized blocks for low cost house construction. The locally designed and fabricated machine is capable of producing two stabilized blocks. per operation and has the capacity to produce up to 3150 blocks per 8-hour working day as against the imported and more expensive one that can produce only a maximum of 2500 blocks per 8-hours working day. The hydraulically operated machine powered with diesel engine was able to generate the required compaction pressure of 10Mpa. The produced soil blocks with 5% cement stabilization had average wet compressive strength of 1.2 Mpa and water absorption of 6.5%. In all cases, the average block density was within the range of 2060 kg/m³. All these values are within the specified values for quality stabilized soil blocks used for low cost building construction.

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Published

2008-09-30

Issue

Vol. 43 No. 3 (2008): NSE TECHNICAL TRANSACTION JOURNAL (NSE TT-J)

Section

Articles