Mechanical Properties of Mortar with Recycled Clay-Brick-Powder

Abstract

Replacing cement with recycled clay-brick-powder could reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emission, enhance conservation of natural resources, and decrease the cost of waste disposal sites. This paper studied the effect of recycled brick-powder on mortar mechanical properties, including flow, compressive strength, and flexural strength. Three level of cement replacement ratio (10%, 20%, and 30%) and four different average particle size of clay-brick-powder (0.3mm, 0.1mm, 0.06mm, and 0.04mm) were considered. Total 13 mixes, including one normal cement mortar as reference, were tested. The water/cement ratio (W/C) and sand ratio were kept constant for all mixes. Testing results showed that recycled clay-brick-powder could be used as partial replacement of cement in mortar without reducing its properties. Compared with normal cement mortar, samples with 10% of 0.1mm and 0.06mm clay-brick-powder had similar or even higher mechanical properties. The effect of clay-brick-powder on the flow and compressive strength depended on its replacement level and average particle size. Generally, compressive strength decreased as the replacement level and average particle size increased. However, mortar with and without clay-brick-powder had similar flexural strength.