Thermal effusivity, thermal conductivity and compressive strength of cement stabilized laterites blended with cow dung

Abstract

Thermal effusivity, thermal conductivity and compressive strength of cement stabilized laterites blended with dif-ferent amounts of cow dung were assessed to determine the optimal cow dung content required to develop compos-ite material with thermo-mechanical properties suitable for housing construction. Control laterite samples conta-ining 0, 4, 8 and 12 % cement were prepared, and each blended with 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 % cow dung. The samples were dried for 28 days to cure, and the thermal effusivity and conductivity were measured using hot strip method, which had advantage of simultaneously measuring under transient conditions, the thermo-physical properties in a relatively short time from a single thermogram recording. The compressive strength was measured using an auto-matic mechanical press. The assessment indicated that the optimal cow dung content required to obtain eco mater-ial of acceptable thermal and mechanical properties for housing construction ranged between 4 and 5 % for stabili-zed cement content between 0 and 12 %. The corresponding values of thermal effusivity and thermal conductivity respectively ranged between 1608.53 to 2300.78 J m^-2 K^-1 s^-0.5 and 0.63 to 0.72 W m^-1 K^-1; while the compressive strength varied from 1.35 to 3.98 MPa.

Keywords: Stabilized Laterite, Cow Dung, Thermo-physical Properties, Thermal Conductivity, Thermal Effusivity, Hot Strip Method, Compressive Strength