SUITABILITY OF COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE SANDCRETE BLOCKS IN ABUJA MUNICIPAL AREA FOR USE AS STREET SIDE DRAIN WALLING MATERIALS

Abstract

Commercially available sandcrete blocks produced in Abuja municipal area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nigeria was investigated, to ascertain their suitability for use as side drain walling material. Block samples produced using a standard mix (SM) ratio of cement: sand of 1: 6 and block samples obtained from five different commercial sandcrete block producing factories, labelled A, B, C, D, and E were obtained and subjected to compressive and water absorption tests. Blocks produced with the standard mix ratio, and those obtained from factory A, B, C, D and E have 28 day average compressive strength values of 0.65, 0.56, 0.56, 0.98 0.94 and 2.89 N/mm 2 respectively, and water absorption values of 8. 6, 9.4, 9.5, 8.1, 7.8 and 5.1 % respectively. Based on results of test commercially available sandcrete blocks in Abuja Municipal area are and blocks produced with the standard mix of (1:6) are not suitable for use as side drain walling materials. Suitability of commercially available sandcrete blocks for use as side drain walling material can be enhanced if a mix proportion richer than the standard mix is used in block production. Keywords: Sandcrete blocks, Side drain, Compressive Strength, Water absorption