A continuum micromechanics model challenged to predict thermo-mechanical properties of 18 different clay bricks and sensitivity analysis revealing effects of compositional and microstructural features

Abstract

Optimizing fired clay bricks to improve the thermo-mechanical performance requires a fundamental understanding of the links between brick microstructure and macro-properties. This is herein tackled by adopting a recently developed multiscale micromechanics model and challenging it with novel macroscopic test results for 18 fired clay bricks produced from seven different clays using different pore-forming additives. This comparison allows us to quantify the vitrification-induced strength increase of the microscopic binding matrix for clays with high carbonate and low illite contents. Micromechanics-based sensitivity analyses reveal optimization potentials regarding pore geometry and pore size distribution.