Influence of bond patterns on cement stabilized earth (CSE) brick and block walls

Abstract

Cement stabilized earth (CSE) bricks and blocks are gradually gaining popularity in many countries with lateritic soils. CSE Bricks can be manufactured to standard size of a burnt clay brick. CSE Blocks are bigger in size and can be manufactured as plain or interlocking. Some of the blocks can be provided with holes (hollow blocks) to provide continuity in vertical direction and also to reduce the weight. The ability to perform structural design calculations for walls made out of different units of CSE bricks and blocks will be essential to make them popular for houses and buildings. This study was focused at the determination of characteristic compressive strength (fk) of walls made out of different types of CSE units and the bond patterns. The possibility of using the relationships between fk of walls and unit strengths given in BS 5628: Part 1: 1992 was also investigated for CSE bricks and blocks. determined when the unit strengths are known using the wall strength values specified in Table 2 of BS 5628: Part 1: 1992 with some modification factors. It is shown that the fk of CSE bricks and blocks can be