Compressive Strength and Water Absorption Characteristics of Fly Ash and Wood Ash Replaced Cement Mortar Bricks

Abstract

The cement production is an energy rigorous process, which produces an equal amount of carbon dioxide per ton of cement. Therefore, due to the growing environmental anxieties of the cement industry, there is a need to develop alternative materials such as fly ash and wood ash. There is also a need to develop masonry units using these alternative materials for sustainability. This research work involves study on the suitability of fly ash and wood ash as a replacement for cement mortar in mortar bricks. Further study was extended to obtain the optimum ration of fly ash and wood ash in the mortar bricks. Different proportions of cement:fly ash:sand and cement:wood ash:sand was prepared. The compressive strength and water absorption properties of the samples were determined for all mix proportions. In this study, it was observed that compressive strength of cement mortar bricks was increased for all proportions with fly ash; on the other hand, compressive strength of bricks was decreased for all proportions with wood ash. Water absorption capacity of all cement mortar bricks with fly ash and wood ash got increased but was within the allowable limit, i.e., 15% by the weight of brick as indicated in the IS 1077-1992.