The Application of Hand Moulded Stabilised Earth Blocks for Rural Houses in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Cement stabilized earth blocks can be considered as an ideal alternative to burnt clay bricks or cement sand blocks since it uses the earth which is generally available as laterite hills in tropical environments as the main ingredient. These are generally manufactured with either hand operated or automated machines. Automated machinery incurs extra expense, which degrades its popularity in rural areas. The development of hand moulded techniques can be a solution to clear this obstacle. This paper describes a detailed laboratory experimental programme carried out with the aim of establishing the strength characteristics of hand moulded cement stabilized earth blocks. It is shown that hand moulded blocks can provide adequate strength for single storey load bearing walls. With adequate quality controlling at the manufacturing stage, hand moulded can also be used for the ground floor of two storey houses.