Durability of Compressed and Cement-Stabilised Building Blocks
Anthony G. Kerali
A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering (2001)
The thesis examines the interplay between three main factors: constituent materials used (cement, soil, water); quality of block processing methods employed; and the effects of natural exposure conditions (physical, chemical, biological).
The thesis concludes that it is possible to significantly raise the strength, improve the dimensional stability and wear resistance of CSBs to the extent that they can be safely used in unrendered walls in the humid tropics. This improvement is achieved via better intergranular bonding, reduction in voids and lowered absorption. Using the slake durability test, it is now tenable to freely discriminate, classify, and compare not only blocks but other like materials of any category and storage history as well. New quantitative durability gradings are recommended for future incorporation into CSB standards.
