DEVELOPMENT OF COMPRESSED BLOCK AND GREEN MORTAR USING LOESS (HWANGTO) by LE, ANH TUAN DISSERTATION Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Yeungnam University in Partial Fulfillments of the Requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY YEUNGNAM UNIVERSITY December 2008 DEVELOPMENT OF COMPRESSED BLOCK AND GREEN MORTAR USING LOESS (HWANGTO) APPROVED BY DISSERTATION COMMITTEE: i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First of all, I have nothing but the ultimate respect for my supervisors, Prof. Kwon, Hyug-Moon, for his great guidance and encouragement throughout the work of this thesis. I am very thankful to Prof. Shin, Young-Shik; Prof. Kwon, Young- Bong; Prof. Woo, Kwang-Sung; Prof. Lee, Jae-Hoon for their classes, especially, to Prof. Park, Sung-Moo and Prof. Park, Yeong-Mok for dedicating their time and effort on participating in my dissertation committee. I also would like to thank Mr. Ju, Hag-Don; Mr. Kim, Chang-Dong ; Mr. Kwon, Jung-Ki, Mr. Lee, Sam-Yong; Mr. Kim, Sang-Won; Mr. Chae, Chul-Ho; Mr. Ko, Jin-Seok; Mr. Shin, Sung-Jin; Dr. Do, Dai Thang, Dr. Nguyen, Ninh Thuy for their help throughout the work. I also wish to thank Vietnamese friends in Yeungnam University for their patient advice and assistance during my study. My deep appreciation goes to Jean Christophe, who spent and enjoyed the time. I would also thank my parents, my wife and two daughters for their love which has given me courage and strength, encouraging me to do my best, and supporting me to complete my goal. Finally, I wish to thank Ho Chi Minh University of Technology and Yeungnam University support during my study. ii CONTENTS Acknowledgements i Contents ii List of Tables iv List of Figures vii CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Motivation 1 1.2 Objectives and scope 5 1.3 Methodology 6 1.4 Organization of dissertation 7 CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEWS 8 2.1 Green construction materials 9 2.2 Compressed earth block and earth mortar 13 2.3 Stabilization mechanism 22 2.4 Summary 25 CHAPTER 3 EXPERIMENTS 26 3.1 Materials 26 3.2 Specimen preparation and curing condition 34 3.3 Test methods 35 CHAPTER 4 COMPRESSED LOESS BLOCK 39 4.1 Influence of moisture content 40 4.2 Influence of binder and compaction pressure 43 iii 4.3 Influence of sand 73 4.4 Influence of curing condition 93 4.5 Summary 98 CHAPTER 5 GREEN LOESS MORTAR 100 5.1 Influence of binder and water content 101 5.2 Influence of sand 127 5.3 Summary 139 CHAPTER 6 DURABILITY AND ENVIRONMENT 141 6.1 Weather resistance 142 6.2 Acid resistance 154 6.3 Environmental impact 169 6.4 Summary 178 CHAPTER 7 CONCLUSIONS 180 7.1 Compressed loess block 182 7.2 Green loess mortar 180 7.3 Durability and environment 183 7.4 Future study 184 REFERENCES 185 ABSTRACT 197 iv List of Tables Table 2- 1 Recommendation concerning contents of the different soil fractions 17 Table 2- 2 Comparison compressed earth blocks and other materials 21 Table 3- 1 Physical properties of Ordinary Portland cement 26 Table 3- 2 Chemical composition of cement 27 Table 3- 3 Physical properties of Natural Hydraulic Lime 27 Table 3- 4 Chemical composition of silica sand 28 Table 3- 5 Physical properties of silica sand 29 Table 3- 6 Physical properties of blast furnace slag 29 Table 3- 7 Chemical composition of blast furnace slag 30 Table 3- 8 Chemical composition of Rice Husk Ash 31 Table 3- 9 Physical properties of admixture 31 Table 3- 10 Physical properties of loess 33 Table 3- 11 Clay content of different loess groups 33 Table 3- 12 Chemical composition of loess 34 Table 4- 1 Effect of compaction pressure on dry density 40 Table 4- 2 Effect of loess group on optimum moisture content 41 Table 4- 3 Mix proportion of compressed loess block 43 Table 4- 4 Effect of cement on developed compressive strength 44 Table 4- 5 Effect of cement and compaction pressure on dry density, tensile strength and water absorption 45 Table 4- 6 Mix proportion with different loess groups 52 Table 4- 7 Properties of compressed loess with different loess groups 53 Table 4- 8 Strength developed with NHL on natural size group 61 Table 4- 9 Mix proportion with Blast furnace slag 67 v Table 4- 10 Mix proportion with Rice husk ash 68 Table 4- 11 Mix proportion of natural size group with sand 74 Table 4- 12 Mix proportion of P16 group with sand 75 Table 4- 13 Mix proportion of P30 group with sand 76 Table 4- 14 Mix proportion of P50 group with sand 77 Table 4- 15 Mix proportion of P100 group with sand 78 Table 4- 16 Effect of sand grading on strength 90 Table 4- 17 Effect of curing condition on 28-day strength 94 Table 5- 1 Mix design for green loess mortar 101 Table 5- 2 Water content and water-binder ratio on green loess mortar 101 Table 5- 3 Effect of water-cement ratio on flow of green loess mortar 102 Table 5- 4 Effect of water content on ultimate drying shrinkage 106 Table 5- 5 Effect of water content on compressive strength 107 Table 5- 6 Effect of water content on tensile strength 108 Table 5- 7 Effect of water content on water absorption 110 Table 5- 8 Mix proportion with different loess groups 112 Table 5- 9 Effect of water content and loess particle on mortar 113 Table 5- 10 Effect of NHL on loess mortar 116 Table 5- 11 Mix proportion of mortar with BFS and RHA 120 Table 5- 12 Effect of BFS and RHA on properties of mortar 121 Table 5- 13 Mix proportion with chemical admixture 124 Table 5- 14 Effect of admixture on properties of green loess mortar 124 Table 5- 15 Mix proportion of green loess mortar with sand 128 Table 5- 16 Properties of mortar of natural size group 129 Table 5- 17 Properties of mortar of the P16 group 129 Table 5- 18 Properties of mortar on of P30 group 130 Table 5- 19 Properties of mortar of the P50 group 130 vi Table 5- 20 Properties of mortar of the P100 group 131 Table 5- 21 Properties of green loess mortar with different sand grades 136 Table 6- 1 Mass reduction of natural size group after cycle of slake durability, with 2.5 MPa pressure 143 Table 6- 2 Mass reduction of loess mortar with natural size group after cycle of slake durability 143 Table 6- 3 Slake durability of compressed loess block 146 Table 6- 4 Effect of different binders on slake durability 147 Table 6- 5 Effect of compaction pressure on slake durability 151 Table 6- 6 Effect of different loess groups on slake durability 152 Table 6- 7 Effect of cement on HCl solution 155 Table 6- 8 Effect of compaction pressure on HCl solution 155 Table 6- 9 Effect of different binders on durability on HCl solution 158 Table 6- 10 Effect of sand on durability on HCl solution 160 Table 6- 11 Effect of sand and loess group on durability on HCl solution 160 Table 6- 12 Effect of cement and pressure on H 2 SO 4 solution 162 Table 6- 13 Effect of compaction pressure on H 2 SO 4 solution 163 Table 6- 14 Effect of different binders on durability on H 2 SO 4 solution 166 Table 6- 15 Effect of sand on durability on H 2 SO 4 solution 166 Table 6- 16 Effect of sand and loess group on durability on H 2 SO 4 solution 167 Table 6- 17 Effect of cement content on pH with curing time 170 Table 6- 18 Effect of cement and loess groups on pH after 450 days 171 Table 6- 19 Effect of different binder on pH value 174 Table 6- 20 Effect of sand on pH value 176 Table 6- 21 Effect of sand and loess group on pH 176 vii List of Figures Fig. 2- 1 Recommended area of dry density and moisture content for adobe, rammed earth and compressed earth blocks following Houben and Guillard 19 Fig. 3- 1 Sand grading 28 Fig. 3- 2 Rice Husk Ash 30 Fig. 3- 3 Loess groups 32 Fig. 3- 4 Particle size of loess on the P100 group 32 Fig. 3- 5 Loess grading 33 Fig. 3- 6 Compressed loess specimen with static compaction 34 Fig. 3- 7 Flow test for loess mortar 36 Fig. 3- 8 Measurement changes in length of loess 37 Fig. 3- 9 pH tested equipments 38 Fig. 4- 1 Relationship between dry density and moisture content 41 Fig. 4- 2 Relationship between moisture content and loess groups 42 Fig. 4- 3 Effect of cement on strength after 7 and 28 days 46 Fig. 4- 4 Increasing strength ratio to compare to strength of 2.5 MPa compaction pressure 46 Fig. 4- 5 Increasing strength of 90, 180, 360, and 450 days compared with 28 days 48 Fig. 4- 6 SEM of compressed sand cement after 450 days 49 Fig. 4- 7 SEM of compressed loess cement after 450 days 49 Fig. 4- 8 Effect of cement on 28-day tensile strength 51 Fig. 4- 9 Effect of compaction pressure on strength with 10% cement 54 Fig. 4- 10 Relationship between cement and dry density of natural size group 55 viii Fig. 4- 11 Relationship between strength and density of natural size group with various compaction pressures 56 Fig. 4- 12 Effect of compaction pressure on compactive effect ratio 57 Fig. 4- 13 Water absorption and cement content with various pressures 58 Fig. 4- 14 Water absorption of different loess groups with 10 % cement 59 Fig. 4- 15 Relationship between strength and NHL content at 28 days 62 Fig. 4- 16 SEM of NHL loess after 450 days curing in air condition 63 Fig. 4- 17 Effect of NHL on 28-day tensile strength 65 Fig. 4- 18 Effect of NHL on 28-day water absorption 65 Fig. 4- 19 Effect of BFS on strength of loess 69 Fig. 4- 20 Effect of BFS on water absorption of loess 70 Fig. 4- 21 Effect of RHA on strength of loess 71 Fig. 4- 22 Effect of RHA on water absorption of loess 72 Fig. 4- 23 Influence of clay content on strength of natural size group 79 Fig. 4- 24 Influence of clay content on strength in the P16 group 80 Fig. 4- 25 Influence of clay content on strength in the P30 group 81 Fig. 4- 26 Influence of clay content on strength in the P50 group 81 Fig. 4- 27 Influence of clay content on strength in the P100 group 82 Fig. 4- 28 Relationship between dry density and strength 84 Fig. 4- 29 Relationship between tensile and compressive strength 85 Fig. 4- 30 Influence of clay content on water absorption with 2.5 MPa pressure 87 Fig. 4- 31 Influence of clay content on water absorption with 5 MPa pressure 87 Fig. 4- 32 Influence of clay content on water absorption with 10 MPa pressure 88 [...]... between BFS and RHA on drying shrinkage 122 Fig 5- 16 Comparison between BFS and RHA on the strength 122 Fig 5- 17 Effect of admixture on flow of green loess mortar 125 Fig 5- 18 Effect of admixture on drying shrinkage of green loess mortar 125 Fig 5- 19 Effect of admixture on strength of green loess mortar 126 Fig 5- 20 Effect of sand on relationship between drying shrinkage and flow... relationship among water-binder ratio, particle size of loess, and amount and type of binders on workability and characteristics of mortar Chapter 6 reports the results of durability of compressed loess block, green loess mortar and their environmental impact Chapter 7 shows the conclusion of the research, ability to use loess materials in construction and requirements for future research   7 Chapter 2... are lower than that of cement and concrete They can be known as green materials Blast furnace slag, rice husk ash and natural hydraulic lime can use to reduce the environmental impact of cement and concrete 1.6 Objectives and scope Based on the advantages of loess mentioned above, this thesis emphasizes the application of compressed loess block and loess 5 Chapter 1 Introduction mortar in construction... additive materials, chemicals and mineral admixtures It reviews the procedure for testing Chapter 4 reports the results of the experiments on compressed loess block The results focus on the relationship among compaction pressure, particle size of loess and amount and type of binders on characteristics of products Chapter 5 reports the results of experiments on green loess mortar, in which discuss on... cement -loess ratio and water-cement ratio on 28day compressive strength 108 Fig 5- 5 Comparison between 28-day tensile and strength 109 Fig 5- 6 Effect of cement -loess ratio and water-cement ratio 111 Fig 5- 7 Effect of loess group on the flow of mortar 113 Fig 5- 8 Effect of loess group on ultimate drying shrinkage 114 Fig 5- 9 Effect of loess group on the strength of mortar 114 Fig... advantages of earth and loess materials and ability of loess materials can be used in construction This chapter outlines the objectives, scope and methodology of the research Chapter 2 provides a literature review of compressed earth blocks and earth mortar from the previous studies This chapter identifies the principal mechanism of loess materials Chapter 3 provides the details of constituent materials... those of rammed earth and adobe (18.0 kN/m3) [5] Comparison to traditional materials, compressed earth block and adobe have interior temperature lower than concrete With a maximum ambient temperature of 107 °F (42 °C), the interior temperatures are 440C, 350C and 330C for concrete, adobe and compressed earth block, respectively [22] 2.5.4 Earth mortar The use of earth mortar is allowed if the earth mortar. .. in construction The overall objective of this study is to develop and perform the characteristics of loess materials Based on the studies on earth products, this research investigates and improves the properties of loess materials The effect of constituent materials and their characteristics on loess will examine The similarity and difference in characteristics of loess products compare to popular building... and rice husk ash replace the amount of cement on loess materials The effect of blast furnace slag or rice husk ash on the properties of loess materials will be studied The effect of loess, natural hydraulic lime, blast furnace slag and rice husk ash on environment is considered by the value of pH 6 Chapter 1 Introduction 1.8 Organization of dissertation Chapter 1 provides the advantages of earth and. .. block Compressed earth block are installed onto the wall by hand and slurry made of a soupy version of the same clay mix and aggregate is spread or brushed very thinly between the blocks for bonding Compressed earth block has many advantages for building materials and human heath They are non-toxic because materials are completely natural and do not out-gas toxic chemicals They have ability of sound . proportion of green loess mortar with sand 128 Table 5- 16 Properties of mortar of natural size group 129 Table 5- 17 Properties of mortar of the P16 group 129 Table 5- 18 Properties of mortar on of. of the Requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY YEUNGNAM UNIVERSITY December 2008 DEVELOPMENT OF COMPRESSED BLOCK AND GREEN MORTAR USING LOESS. DEVELOPMENT OF COMPRESSED BLOCK AND GREEN MORTAR USING LOESS (HWANGTO) by LE, ANH TUAN DISSERTATION Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Yeungnam