Utilization of Traditional Building Materials (Rice Husk Ash) in the Production of Sustainable Economic Building Materials

This paper tends to evaluate the variations in compressive strength developed between ordinary and improved compressed earth brick earth stabilized with rice husk ash (RHA) at different percentage of RHA additions ranging from 0.0%, 2.5%, 5.0%, 7.5%, 10.0% and 12.5% by weight of dry soil at various curing periods of 14, 21 and 28days respectively. The Clay soil sample collected from Bambami village of Batagarawa Local government of Katsina state Nigeria, while the Rice Husk were obtained from Dandume local government of the same state. the results revealed that, a compressed earth brick (CEB) when stabilized with a rice husk ash is comparable with other bricks in every respect and can perform well in modern construction work and demonstrates the properties and shows its good effect when compared with conventional bricks especially in terms of strength and durability at 10.50% and 12.50% curing period of 28days with compressive strength of 3.98N/mm2, 3.80N/mm2 respectively, while the ordinary un-stabilized compressed bricks with 0.00%(control group) recorded with 1.00N/mm2 as the highest compressive strength value obtained at curing period of 21dyas among the other control samples. Whoever, other parameter measured indicates that, increase in optimum moisture content (OMC) and decrease in maximum dry density (MDD) with increase in percentage addition of RHA. There was also improvement in CBR and Ultimate bearing capacity with increase in addition of RHA content. The result also indicates the maximum dosage of RHA is between 10% to 12.5%. the study therefore, concluded that rice husk ash can be used as an alternative soil stabilization agent for improving the properties of soft clay soil in making compressive earth brick suitable for load bearing walls of not more than two stories in areas where the rice husk is available.

Keywords: strength, brick, earth, stabilization, compressed, rice husk ash.