Performance of composite sand cement brick containing paddy husk

Abstract This research concentrates on the performance of composite sand cement brick containing paddy husk also known as rice husk. The main objective of this research is to determine the mechanical properties possess by the composite sand cement brick containing rice husk, such as water absorption and compressive strength. The bricks were designed to contain 0- 4% of RH. The brick specimens were naturally sun dried and be cured for 28-days in protected space. The percentage of water absorbed increases from controlled specimen to 1% of RH and slightly decreases at 2% of RH. The value then increases significantly at 3% and 4% of RH. The optimum amount of the RH percentage in this research would be at 2% correspond to the water absorption of specimens. For the compressive strength, the results show steep decrease from controlled specimen to 1% of RH and began to increase from 2% till 3% of RH and significantly decrease again. The optimum amount of the RH percentage in this research would be at 3% of RH correspond to the compressive strength of specimens. Thus implies that the addition of rice husk into the brick causing the brick to have lower density, subsequently increase water absorption and decrease the compressive strength of the brick