ENGINEERING PROPERTIES OF CLAY BRICKS WITH USE OF FLY ASH

Abstract

Mixing various properties of fly ash in clay material (5-50% by weight, in ratio of dry fly ash to wet clay, at a step of 5% each) this will from 16 bricks of each proportion have been manufactured. The manufacturing process uses techniques and equipment similar to those used in clay brick factories. The bricks produced were up to 10.60% lighter than clay bricks. The bricks manufactured from fly ash possessed compressive strength more than 5 N/mm2 which is more than normal clay bricks. This exceeds some of the best of load carrying clay bricks and is several times better than acceptable commercially available common clay bricks. Other important characteristics of the fly ash bricks have been evaluated. These included water absorption capacity, compressive strength and Efflorescence test. Fly ash bricks absorb less quantity of water which is under I.S. requirement. Fly ash-clay bricks give nil efflorescence. The values of these characteristics for fly ash bricks are excellent and have exceeded those pertaining to clay bricks. Moreover, fly ash bricks have been produced with a naturally occurring reddish colour similar to that of normal clay bricks. The new bricks and process have been given the name Fly ash Bricks. This work presents the results of testing and the advantages gained by this type of bricks over conventional clay bricks.