Quality improvement of clay bricks using rice husk ash | |
| Author | Myint Soe |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.ST-03-9 |
| Subject(s) | Clay Bricks |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | In developing countries where per capita income is low, more economical substitutes could satisfy the needs of the people especially in the rural area. The increasing use of cement in the construction industry of poor countries is becoming unrealistic, and solving housing problem of increasing population and satisfying other construction needs become more and more difficult unless more cost saving methods are introduced. Accordingly, many developing countries are attempting to develop substitutes for brick from locally available raw materials like agricultural and industrial wastes. Rice husk, an agricultural waste, constitutes about one fifth of the 300 million metric tons of rice produced annually in the world. Because of its poor nutritive value and high silica content, it has been considered as an agricultural waste, having a low bulk density and an abrasive character, they also pose some disposal problems. The objective of this study is to investigate the feasibility of using rice husk ash as additives in order to improve the quality of burnt clay bricks. The percentage contents of rice husk ash used are 5, 10, 15 and 20% by dry weight of clay. Clay bricks using different percentages of RHA are prepared manually and then fired in a small-scale brick factory. Measurements of shrinkage, water absorption capacity and compressive strength of bricks are conducted and compared with those of ordinary burnt clay brick. Test results indicated that the total shrinkage of clay bricks using both ground and unground RHA decrease with an increase in RHA content. The water absorption capacities of clay bricks using both ground and unground RHA are higher than that of ordinary clay bricks. The water absorption is, however, within allowable limit. The compressive of both burnt and unburnt bricks using ground RHA are found to increase with increase ground RHA contents. The compressive strength of clay bricks using ground RHA is found to be highest when 20% of RHA by weight is used. Including ground or unground rice husk ash in brick making clay mixes also has other advantages fast drying, small shrinkage and small volume density. But compressive strength of both burnt and unburnt bricks using unground RHA are found to be decreased with increase unground RHA. It is also found that using unground RHA as additives are not suitable for quality improvement of clay bricks. Ground RHA is the potential pozzolanic waste material that can be used as mineral additives to improve strength of the burnt clay brick. So, ground RHA should be a used additive in clay brick up to 20% by dry weight of soil for quality improvement of clay brick. |
| Year | 2003 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Engineering and Technology (SET) |
| Department | Department of Civil and Infrastucture Engineering (DCIE) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Structural Engineering (STE) /Former Name = Structural Engineering and Construction (ST) |
| Chairperson(s) | Pichai Nimityongskul; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Pennung Warnitchai;Barry, William J.; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Asian Institute of Technology-Partial Scholarship; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2003 |