Evaluation of the readiness of clay bricks with partially replaced rice husk ash

Abstract

Environmentally acceptable alternatives are replaced for the raw construction materials to alleviate sustainability concerns with construction materials. Rice husk ash, an agricultural byproduct, can be substituted in the production of construction materials. In this study, the effect of adding rice husk ash from organic agricultural waste on brick quality is explored. In this study, four sets of bricks are cast with various percentages of rice husk ash, ranging from 0% to 20% with a 5% increment, and then burned in a furnace for varying durations of time. This research examines the compressive strength and water absorption of bricks containing varying concentrations of rice husk ash. According to the findings, an increase in rice husk ash reduces compressive strength and increases water absorption. The present findings reveal that a brick containing 5% rice husk ash has a higher compressibility of 4.70 N/mm2 and a decreasing compressive strength as the proportion of rice husk ash increases. The results also demonstrated an 11.65 % reduction in water absorption at a rice husk ash concentration of 5 %, and the absorption rate increases consistently up to 10 % rice husk ash before decreasing with a further increase in rice husk ash. Therefore, the technology of creating bricks by casting combinations of clay, sand, and rice husk ash is not only useful for constructing walls but also for reducing environmental pressure and promoting sustainable development.