A Study on Improving the Strength Properties of Adobe Brick with the use of Agriculture Waste Stabilizer

The construction of adobe houses in flood prone areas is a common practice. These houses collapse when hydraulic loads from flood exerts on the houses. The failure occurs because the adobe brick lacks strength. In order to improve strength of adobe brick, the effects of agriculture waste therefore rice straw, rice husk and rice husk ash as a stabilizing agent have been explored in this paper. The compressive strength test and splitting test was conducted on the adobe specimens which were stabilized with 2% rice straws, 2% rice husk and 2% rice husk ash by the dry weight of soil. The results showed the improvement in strength and elasticity of specimens containing rice straws & rice husk. Whereas with the addition of rice husk ash, the adobe loses its strength and showed plastic behavior.