Abstract
As global energy demands continue to increase, the construction industry, known for its high energy consumption, is in greater need of materials that are both lightweight and thermally efficient. Porous bricks were elaborated using organic waste additives to explore the relationship between compressive strength (CS) and thermal performance. To determine the optimal conditions, for producing fired clay bricks with enhanced strength and low thermal conductivity (TC) a multi-objective optimisation approach was employed. We considered three factors: the pore-forming additive ratio (0–5% by weight of wheat straw), firing temperature (25–900 °C), and liquid-to-solid ratio (17–21%), using a 3-factor, 3-level Box-Behnken design for optimisation. Standard analysis methods were used to assess the physical, mechanical, and thermal properties of the fired bricks. Predictive models were developed for CS and TC, with the objectives being to minimise TC while maximising CS. The results showed that firing temperature (X 1) positively influenced CS, while the wheat straw ratio (X 2) negatively affected it. For TC, X 1 had a reducing effect, aligning with the goal of minimising TC, while X 2 demonstrated its effectiveness as a pore-forming agent.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call