EFFECTS OF PROCESSING PARAMETERS ON THE COMPRESIVE STRENGTH OF WOOD CEMENT AGGREGATES MANUFACTURED FROM A CA CIA SEYAL

摘要

The effects of cement/wood ratio, calcium chloride content and pressure on compressive strength of Acaia seyal wood-cement aggregates were investigated. Particles were prepared from wood logs obtained from stems of A.seyal trees growing in Wadel Bashir forest, Gadaref State, Sudan. The wood particles and cement were mixed at four ratios (2:1, 2.5:1 3:1 and 3.5:1) and three levels of calcium chloride (1, 2 and 3% of cement weight), and used to prepare 7 cm test cubes. Pressure treatment (4 N/mm~2) wasimmediately applied, using a hydraulic press, to the samples. All test cubes were tested for compressive strength after immersing in water for 28 days using a universal testing machine. The compressive strength of the aggregates significantly increasedwith increasing cement/wood ratio and calcium chloride contents. Higher pressure significantly increased the compressive strength of the aggregates.