Studies On Compacted Stabilised Fly Ash Mixtures And Fly Ash Bricks For Masonry

Fly ash is a waste product from thermal power plants where pulverised coal is used for the generation of electricity. Fly ash is being utilised in the blended cements, additive for concrete and manufacturing of concrete blocks and bricks. Fly ash-lime-gypsum bricks are being manufactured and marketed throughout the country. The literature review on fly ash-lime-gypsum (FALG) mixtures as intended to manufacture bricks or blocks for masonry applications indicates several gaps in understanding the various aspects of the technology. The present thesis is an attempt to understand the behaviour of compacted stabilised fly ash mixtures for the manufacture of fly ash bricks and characteristics of masonry using such bricks. A brief introduction to the technology of compacted stabilised fly ash bricks for structural masonry is provided. Review of the literature on fly ash-lime and fly ash-lime-gypsum mixtures, and fly ash bricks is provided in chapter 1. Chapter 2 gives details of the experimental programme, properties of raw materials used in the experimental investigations, methods of preparing different types of specimens and their testing procedures. Chapter 3 deals with the strength and absorption characteristics of compacted stabilised fly ash mixtures in greater detail. The main focus of the investigations is on arriving at the optimum stabilizer-fly ash mixtures considering density, stabilizer-fly ash ratio, curing conditions, etc. as the variables. Therefore the parameters/variables considered in the investigation include: (a) density of the compacted fly ash mixture, (b) stabilizer-fly ash ratio, (c) curing duration (normal curing and steam curing) and (d) dosage of additives like gypsum. Some of the major conclusions of the investigations are (a) compressive strength of compacted stabilised fly ash mixtures is sensitive to dry density of the specimens and the strength increases with increase in density irrespective of stabiliser content and type of curing, (b) Optimum limefly ash ratio yielding maximum strength is 0.75, (c) addition of gypsum accelerates rate of strength gain for compacted fly ash-lime mixtures (d) for 28 days wet burlap curing optimum gypsum content yielding maximum strength is 2% and maximum compressive strength is achieved for lime contents in the range of 10 – 17%, (e) steam curing (at 80 °C for 24 hours) gives highest compressive strength for compacted fly ash-lime mixtures. Characteristics of compacted fly ash-lime, fly ash-lime-gypsum and fly ash-cement bricks and their masonry are presented in chapter 4. Compressive strength, elastic modulus, water absorption, initial rate of absorption, dimensional stability and durability of the bricks were examined. Compressive strength, flexure bond strength and stress strain relationship for the fly ash brick masonry using cement-lime mortar were evaluated. The investigations clearly show the possibility of producing bricks of good quality using compacted fly ash-lime gypsum mixtures. Wet compressive strengths of 8- 10 MPa was obtained for compacted…