Geotechnical characterisation of lateritic soils from south-western Nigeria as materials for cost-effective and energy-efficient building bricks

Lateritic soils which have been described as highly weathered tropical or subtropical residual soils were studied with an attempt to establish its suitability or otherwise as sustainable material in building bricks and housing development that will meet the present challenge of sustaining the environment without costing too much and maintaining a high standard of strength, durability and aesthetics. Index properties of the tested lateritic soils revealed them as mostly well graded, comprising both cohesive (silt and clay) and cohesionless (sand and gravel) soil fraction. The geotechnical analyses on the studied lateritic soil revealed a strong compressive strength with a relatively sound dry density which could guarantee a good durability in resulting bricks made from these soil materials. Further test on the strength and durability of the compressed earth bricks (CEBs) made from these lateritic soils revealed a brick with compressive strength ranging between 6.33 and 15.57 MPa which is considered to be of good strength coupled with its sound durability strength established over a period of more than one year under a complete cycle of weather and seasonal conditions. In conclusion, lateritic soils from the study area were found to be suitable as materials for bricks (CEB) with good compressive and durability strength which qualifies them as sustainable and cost-effective materials for low-cost housing development.