Production and Evaluation of the Durability of Laterite, Interlocking Paver Block Incorporating Glass Powder

The high cost of construction materials has made building out of reach to average Nigerians. This has given rise to inward sourcing for local waste as an alternative to conventional ones. Laterite interlocking paver blocks were evaluated in this research. Grain size analysis, Liquid limit, and Plastic limits were carried out on a collected laterite soil sample, X-ray fluorescence test was carried out on glass powder, compressive, split tensile strengths, acid attack, density and water absorption were carried out on the LIPB. The percentage of particles passing sieve number 200 is greater than 35%. LL was 43.24%, PL was 26.09%. and PI was 17.5%. XRF (SiO2 + Al2O3 + Fe2O3) of glass powder is 61.92%. it is classified as class - C pozzolan. Paver blocks of 300 x 150 100mm were produced from laterite and cement using 1:4 ratios. Glass powder was used to replace cement in three varied percentages of 10, 20 and 30 respectively, sample with 10% replacement had the highest compressive strength of 7.80N/mm2 compared with 0% replacement of 8.30N/mm2 and the lowest compressive strength of 3.49N/mm2 was observed at 30% replacement When samples were immersed in acid water solutions of magnesium sulphate and hydrochloric acid, there was a significant reduction in compressive strength. Tensile strength of 1.19N/mm2 was observed at both 0% and 10%, while the lowest tensile strength of 0.62N/mm2 was observed at 30% replacement. The maximum density obtained is 1408.73 kgm-3, below the minimum value of 1810 kgm-3 recommended by the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute. This may be due to the physical properties of the laterite soil or the glass powder used. Water absorption capacity of the specimens at 0, 10, 20 and 30% were 9.55, 4.23, 9.51 and 3.54, respectively. all samples produced satisfied the maximum water absorption of 12% recommended by the Nigerian Industrial Standard and 12.5% water absorption recommended by the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute. Replacement of cement with glass powder up to 10% is effective, sustainable and economical. The use of a Laterite Interlocking Paver Block is not advisable in an acid-prone environment.