Environment Friendly Disaster Resistant Construction Blocks for Sustainable Housing in Developing Countries
Volume Title: ICASGE2025
Paper ID : 1060-ICASGE-FULL (R1)
Authors
Department of Civil Engineering, UET Lahore
Abstract
Using natural materials in construction offers a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to conventional materials like concrete and steel. This research explores the potential of lime, mud, industrial and agriculture wastes for developing durable interlocking mud bricks to reduce the carbon footprint. Emissions in this process stemmed solely from material transport and testing equipment, while batching, mixing, and casting were done manually to ensure carbon neutrality. Aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action), the project aims to create affordable construction materials for underdeveloped regions. Five mixes incorporating natural and waste materials were tested alongside a control sample of pure clay. Mix-5 (clay, jute fibers, marble waste) exhibited the highest compressive strength and flexural strength, while Mix-4 (clay, rice husk, lime) showed the lowest. Despite poor absorption rates, Mix-2 (clay, lime, jute fibers) and Mix-4 demonstrated excellent durability under simulated rainfall. The testing regime followed ASTM C67. Further research is needed to enhance the strength and durability of these blocks for mass level production.
Keywords
Subjects