Building Blocks Using Foamed Concrete with Industrial Waste Materials

Abstract

Clay bricks or hollow/solid concrete blocks are used as infills for reinforced concrete framed structures in the present construction scenario. There is substantial depletion of natural resources during the production of conventional bricks, which create environmental pollution due to burning of bricks. Also, for the production of hollow/solid cement concrete blocks, large quantities of cement and natural aggregates are being used. This enforces researchers to develop a more feasible, lighter and greener alternate material for infills. Foamed concrete (FC) is such an innovative and versatile material, which consists of a cement based mortar having minimum 20% of volume filled with air. The effective consumption of industrial by-products for the production of FC lead to preservation of natural resources, solving disposal issues of these wastes. FC is found to be economically viable, light in weight, durable, thermally resistive as well as environmentally sustainable. This research focuses on the feasibility of utilizing the industrial waste materials such as fly ash and GGBFS as partial substitute for cement and quarry dust as substitute for fine aggregate. The influence of these waste materials on foamed concrete and the development of properties like compressive strength, dry density, water absorption and thermal conductivity were studied.