Effect of Earth Mud Bricks Stabilized with Palm Tree Strands on Compressive Strength and Water Absorption rate

Abstract

The study determined the effects of earth mud bricks stabilized with palm tree strands on compressive strength and water absorption rate. Determine the compressive strength of earth mud bricks with 0% control stabilization, determine the compressive strength of earth mud bricks with 10%, 15% and 20% palm tree stabilization, find out the water absorption rate of earth mud bricks with 0% control stabilization and find out the water absorption rate of earth mud bricks stabilized with palm tree strand. Four research questions guided the study. The study adopted true experimental research design. The Laboratory test was conducted in Building Department of the Federal University of Technology, Minna. A total of 54 earth mud bricks cubes were produced consisting 12 mud cubes for 0% control stabilization and 36 mud cubes for 10%, 15% and 20% stabilization for compressive strength and 6 mud cubes for water absorption rate. Materials used were palm tree strand earth mud and water while the test conducted was compressive strength and water absorption rate. The findings of the study revealed that the compressive strength of earth mud brick stabilized with palm tree strand at 10% with 2.12 Nmm2 is not in conformity, 15% with 2.53 Nmm2 at 28 days is in conformity with Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS) (2.5- 3.45 Nmm2, while 20% with 14.27 Nmm2 is above the NIS value. The findings on the water absorption rate of earth mud brick stabilized with strands are 8.45%, 9.21% and 7.25% which is in conformity with NIS of 12% minimum standard. It was therefore recommended that building professionals should encourage the use of palm tree strand at 15% in conformity and 20% stabilization since it yielded high compressive strength for the production of stabilize earth mud bricks for building construction and government should organize training and sensitization on the percentage of palm tree strands required in the production of stabilize earth mud bricks of high compressive strength with good water absorption rate.