STRUCTURAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF TERMITE SOIL AS A PARTIAL REPLACEMENT TO CEMENT

STRUCTURAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF TERMITE SOIL AS A PARTIAL REPLACEMENT TO CEMENT

bstract:
The use of alternative materials in construction practices has gained significant attention in recent years due to concerns about environmental sustainability and the high energy consumption associated with traditional building materials. This study investigates the structural and mechanical properties of termite soil as a partial replacement for cement in construction applications.

Termite soil, commonly known as “termite mound soil” or “termitaria,” is a naturally occurring material generated by termites during the construction of their mounds. This soil exhibits unique characteristics, such as self-compaction and high clay content, which make it a potential candidate for partial cement replacement in construction materials.

In this research, termite soil samples were collected from termite mounds and subjected to laboratory testing. Various tests were conducted to evaluate the structural and mechanical properties of termite soil-cement composites, including compressive strength, flexural strength, and density. The properties of the composites were compared with those of traditional cement-based materials to assess the suitability of termite soil as a partial replacement for cement.

The results indicated that termite soil could be effectively used as a partial replacement for cement in construction applications. The compressive strength and flexural strength of termite soil-cement composites were found to be comparable to those of conventional cement-based materials. Moreover, the termite soil-cement composites exhibited improved density, indicating better compaction properties.

The findings of this study suggest that incorporating termite soil as a partial replacement for cement can potentially enhance the sustainability of construction practices by reducing cement consumption and utilizing a locally available, renewable resource. Additionally, the use of termite soil in construction materials can contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions associated with cement production.

Further research is recommended to investigate the long-term durability and performance of termite soil-cement composites under different environmental conditions. Additionally, the optimization of termite soil content and mix design parameters should be explored to achieve the desired structural and mechanical properties for specific applications.

Keywords: termite soil, partial replacement, cement, structural properties, mechanical properties, sustainability.

STRUCTURAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF TERMITE SOIL AS A PARTIAL REPLACEMENT TO CEMENT, GET MORE MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

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