Study on interlocking geo-polymer interlocking earth blocks made with residual rice husk ash and fly ash

Abstract

In the recent scenario, masonry structures need special attention in the construction industry to overcome the direct and indirect combinations of stresses. Bricks and stones are the basic conventional materials adopted widely in masonry construction which would over-exploit the renewable sources like red soil used. So in the present research paper, geo-polymer interlocking blocks were prepared using residual rice husk ash and fly ash as the red soil replacement with the sodium hydroxide solution. The red soil has been replaced by mineral admixtures using fly ash from 10% to 60% with a constant replacement of rice husk ash at 5%. A total of seven mixes were prepared including a reference mix(without mineral admixtures) for developing interlocking earth blocks. The strength tests namely dry and wet compressive strength were conducted. The water absorption and efflorescence tests were conducted for all blocks to assess their durability properties. The non-destructive testing was conducted using an ultrasonic pulse velocity test. Based on the experimental investigation, it was inferred that the mix M4 comprising 40% fly ash and 5% rice husk ash as red soil replacement has shown improved compressive strength and resistance to the water absorption and is regarded as an optimal mix through UPV and efflorescence test results fell short comparing to other mixes of interlocking earth blocks. The embodied energy was calculated and reported in the present paper.