Modifying The Compressive Strength Of Concrete By Using Local Available Cactus Gum As Additive

Abstract

In modern construction, to modify the properties of Portland cement based mortars and concretes, commercial additives were used. Besides the cost of those materials, what is especially important for the case of massive buildings, the environmental issues are generally of little concern in this area. In fact, a numberof organic materials are reported as additivesto improve properties such as plasticity, durability andstrength in adobe, mortars and concrete However,the available literature is very scarce on the scientific detailsof ancient technologies or the consequences of theirmodern application.Less than 100 years ago Ethiopia, had a tradition of constructing seven story loam buildings and it was almost forgotten [1]. Accordingly, the aim of this study is to connect new construction methods with the use of the gum extracted from the prickly pearcactus in concrete usedin modern buildingsand civil engineering, as a greenalternative for some of the additives used in a construction technology.Studying the effect of this material is done by checking the laboratory test results of concrete mixes for the 7, 14 and 28 days age of compressive strengths with and without the addition of the cactus gum on their constituent materials .The procedure for concrete preparation will be carried out according to EBCS by using OPC cement. In order to address the objective of this study, analysis of test results will be carried out on the laboratory experiment