Determination of engineering properties of locust bean waste and wildvine use for construction in Nigeria

Abstract

The rate of migration into urban cities especially in Africa is a clear indication for increase in shelter for sustainable environment. To create a sustainable built environment, is to improve the use of local construction materials to meet the need of the growing population. In construction, certain admixtures are added to soil to improve its properties depending on the performances desired. This study seeks to determine the engineering properties of locust bean waste and wild vine as stabilizers used for construction. This was achieved through the following objectives to resist the high rate of wear and tear of buildings caused by rain and to determine the suitability of the admixture with less water absorption capacity and hydration process. Lack of proper stabilization is responsible for low strength of laterite in building and roads construction. Engineering performance of soil is enhanced by the addition of stabilizers. The wild vine and the locust bean waste were obtained from Gudum Hausawa, Bauchi and soaked in different concentration which were mixed with laterite. A quantity of the milled wild vine and locust bean were put in a soxholet extractor and extracted with n-hexane. The liquid was purified by drying off the solvent in a rotary evaporator. The wild vine liquor was mixed with 30, 40 50 and 60 litres of water to 10 kg locust bean waste respectively. The results were compared with that of plain laterite soil. It was found that averagely the laterite soil was 0.70N/m² and the highest average value of the compressive test was 1.23N/m². The average liquid limit value of laterite soil is 40.13% and the plastic limit is 35.63%. The results indicated high performance of strength when compared to plain laterite soil and its suitable stabilizers for construction.

Keywords: Building Construction, Engineering Properties, Locust Beans Waste, Wild Vine