Mechanical and Economic Analysis of Soil-Cement Blocks Applied in Rural Housing

This research work performs a mechanical and economic analysis of soil-cement blocks as an alternative construction element for application in rural housing in the district of Pilcomayo located in Peru, since this area shows a high percentage of housing deficit and a high level of poverty among the inhabitants. To determine the mechanical analysis, compression tests were carried out on soil-cement blocks and prisms, as well as diagonal compression tests on walls; all these tests were carried out with dosages of 10%, 15% and 20% of cement. The optimum dosage to be applied as a soil-cement block turned out to be 15% cement, since it met all the minimum strength requirements of Standard E.070. Regarding the Economic Analysis of the soil-cement blocks, the technique of Unit Price Analysis was used to evaluate the cost of manufacturing and laying soil-cement blocks for 1 m2, then these results were compared with the cost of a conventional brick of the same study area. In the end, it was concluded that the soil-cement blocks turned out to be 11% cheaper than a conventional one, besides being more environmentally friendly, since for its production, it does not require firing as a traditional clay brick dose.