Strength of Sway Frame Infilled with Cement Stabilized Laterite Block

ABSTRACT- The experimental results of the strength and failure mechanism of sway frames with cement stabilized laterite block infill are presented in this study. The engineering properties of cement stabilized laterite block produced from local laterite from Rumueme, Port Harcourt, Nigeria and cement content of zero, two, four, six and eight percent are first investigated to produce blocks at optimum moisture content and then testing for strength property carried out. It was established that four percent cement stabilized laterite block, compacted at its optimum moisture content and dry density produced the best combination of physical and mechanical properties as the tensile, shear and boned strengths for the four percent cement stabilized laterite blocks meet the minimum Code specifications for sandcrete and brick blocks. This agrees with the findings of Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI), from a similar experiment conducted in Kano State, Nigeria. The strength of 1.13N/mm 2 achieved at 28days is higher than the Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS) specification of IN/mm 2 for cement stabilized laterite block. The strength and failure mechanism of a one-quarter scale model reinforced concrete frame infilled with four percent cement stabilized laterite block followed the trend established for sandcrete and brick infills with the sway resistance capacity of the frame increasing by about 300%. The experimental collapse load of the frame agrees with the theoretical collapse load to about 1%. From the foregoing a wider application of cement stabilized laterite block as infill will lead to cost effective housing delivery as laterite is very available and relatively cheap