Optimizing the compressive strength of binary mixtures of laterite-sand cement mortar Abstract:

Abstract

The use of conventional cement-sand material for the production of mortar for permanent ferro-cement formworks and bedding & jointing sandcrete block walls has been in use as traditional material. An attempt to substitute partially, with binary mixtures of laterite to introduce both cement and plastic bonds as a property of the composite material is proposed to reduce the cost of cement, the binder. A methodology for specification writing procedure using a computational approach is introduced using the Central Composite Design mixture experimental design (CCD). The properties of the composite material were investigated and found to satisfy basic NIS standards. It enabled lower cement contents with corresponding higher minimum compressive strength to be achieved, which is well above the minimum requirement of 2.8 N/mm2 NIS standards, thus making the replacements suitable for permanent ferro-cement and bedding & jointing masonry works.