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Assessment of Structural Strength of Commercial Sandcrete Blocks in Kano State
Abstract
This research was aimed at studying the strength properties of the commercial sandcrete blocks produced in Kano State. A total number of 250 block samples were randomly collected from five local government areas, fifty (50) from each of the local governments and cured for 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. The blocks were subjected to various tests at wet and dry conditions as follow: wet compressive test, drying shrinkage, moisture movement and density all in accordance with established standards in the structural laboratory of Department of Civil Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and the aggregates were subjected to sieve analysis and moisture content determination in the Geotechnical Laboratory of the department. The compressive strength was found to be between 0.25 N/mm2 and 0.92 N/mm2 which are far below the specified values (2.5 N/mm2 to 3.45N/mm2 respectively) in the Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS 87, 2000). It is concluded that the commercially produced sandcrete blocks in Kano State are of lower standard than expected. It is recommended that workshop should be organised periodically to enlighten the producers of sandcrete blocks. The importance of adhering to standard specifications should be emphasised and strict penalties be meted out to erring producers by the Nigerian Industrial Standard Organisation.
Keywords: sandcrete blocks, compressive strength, Kano State, British standard, mix ratio
