INVESTIGATING THE COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF HIGH STRENGTH CONCRETE USING POWDERED BURNT BRICK AS PARTIAL REPLACEMENT FOR CEMENT AT DIFFERENT WATER CEMENT RATIO

INVESTIGATING THE COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF HIGH STRENGTH CONCRETE USING POWDERED BURNT BRICK AS PARTIAL REPLACEMENT FOR CEMENT AT DIFFERENT WATER CEMENT RATIO

ABSTRACT

As a result of the high cost of building materials and The continual increase in the cost of conservative Building materials such as cement, substitute solutions are brought through the use of low cost/waste materials such as agricultural byproducts, industrial and recycled building materials which have been proved to be suitable for a wide range of use in concrete production. This brings the need for studies into the use of powdered burnt brick (PBB) as partial replacement for cement being the most important ingredient materials used in the production of concrete. This study investigates the compressive strength of high strength concrete produced with powdered burnt brick as partial replacement for cement at different water cement ratio. it aimed to investigate the feasibility of using waste bricks powder in high strength concrete. This was achieved through some set of objectives which includes determination of the physical properties of powdered burned brick, chemical decomposition, and loss of ignition, to compare to that of cement. and also to find out the optimum percentage to which cement can be replace with powdered burned brick. Cement is replaced by waste bricks powder for 10% PBB, 20% PBB and 30% PBB by it weight at 0.35 and 0.40 water cement ratio. Concrete cubes and cylinders were cast under the two water cement ratio at different percentages, and cured for 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28days. The specimens were crushed at each of the curing days to determine the compressive and flexural strengths. The results validated that the bricks powder show pozzolanic properties. It also show that concrete with partial cement replacement by waste bricks powder has minor strength loss as tested after 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 curing days . The study also ascertained the use of lower water cement ratio as the best to produce desire high strength concrete but super plasticizer is added to increase the strength and workability of the concrete. The results of the investigation confirmed the potential use of this bricks powder material to produce high strength concrete. It is therefore recommended that bricks waste should be utilize by grinding it in to powder to replace cement at allowable percentages so as to reduce the cost of cement and also save the environment. 

CHAPTER ONE

1.0   INTRODUCTION

1.1     BACKGROUND OF STUDY

Most of the developed countries, such as South Africa, Canada and Nigeria are stumble upon with the problem of construction materials shortages because of the continues increased in population and demand for new construction works. Concrete is the world’s most consumed man made material used in construction works (Naik, 2008). Concrete Production relies to a large extent on the availability of cement, and other constituents. the costs of which have risen astronomically over the past few years. Despite the increasing cost of the cement, the demand for concrete is increasing. In concrete, the economy, technical aspect, environmental and energy consumption is important. Reduction of Portland cement without reducing performance of concrete is very essential for massive projects that need a lot of cement. Today, pozzolan and cementations materials play an important role in concrete. Wastes of industries and constructions which have pozzolanic or cementitious property, not only can reduce environmental pollution and energy consumption of construction industry, but also reduces the cost.

Countless number of waste such as agricultural byproducts, industrial and recycled building materials exist which have been proved to be suitable for a wide range of use in concrete production and also has a great potential for increased use in the future time. Concrete is probably the most commonly used construction material in the world. For desire characteristics of concrete, many research and adjustment have been made in concrete. There is always a requirement for concrete with high strength and durability. For this, blended cement concrete has been introduced. Environmental concerns regarding rapid consumption of natural resources and CO₂ emission during cement manufacturing process have brought pressure to reduce cement consumption by the use of cement replacement materials (CRMs). Pozzolans are also known as cementitious materials, are used in concrete ingredient with normal cement as replacement materials. Originally the term pozzolan was associated with calcined earth and volcanic ashes which normally react with lime in the presence of water at ambient temperature (Pak, 2013).

Nowadays, this term covers all siliceous or aluminous materials which are in fine powder form and react with calcium hydroxide Emissions.

With the development, experimentation and research in concrete technology, cement has been replaced by using alternative material or changing cement composition such as pozzolanic materials. There are different types of cement replacement materials which are commonly used. Commonly used pozzolans are volcanic ash, brick powder, pumicite, fly ash, metakaolin, ashes of rice husk, bagasse ash, and silica-fume etc. Some of them are naturally occurring while others are by-product from industrial processes and demolition waste.

Also in cement industries continues effort are being made to reduce the consumption of raw materials, cost of Portland cement, to shield the environment, and to enhance the quality of cement. One way is to use certain low cost materials for partial replacement of cement clinker. Low cost materials used are industrial and agricultural by products (wastes). Mixture of Portland cement and the above by products are known as blended cement or composite cement. By definition, blended cement is hydraulic binders in which some percentage of Portland cement is replaced by other hydraulic or non-hydraulic materials. pozzolanic are The most common ingredient blending with Portland cement. such as fly ash, rice husk ash, condensed silica fume, burnt clay or filler components such as lime, stone and other wastes materials (Dwivedi et al, 2006).

1.2 Aim and Objectives.

The aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility of high strength concrete using powdered burnt brick as partial replacement for cement.

And the objectives of the study are:

1. To investigate some physical and chemical properties of the powdered burnt brick (PBB).
2. To determine the compressive strength of concrete produced with powdered burnt brick at different percentages and at different water cement ratio.
3.  To ascertain the suitability of replacing cement partially with powdered burn brick in strength properties of concrete.
4. To understand and appreciate the phenomenon of pozzolanic reaction as evidenced if cement is replaced with this powdered burnt brick at different percentage for high strength concrete.

1.3 Scope and Limitation of the study

 The finest of Brick dust has a great potential use when is partially replaced with cement in production of concrete at a certain percentage due to it pozzolanic properties. Even though there are different types of pozzolanic material, but the scope of this research is only focusing on the production of high strength concrete using the powdered burnt brick as partial replacement for cement at 10%, 20%, and 30% with different water cement ratio? The study is limited to determine the strength characteristic of the concrete. There are obstacles to the successful implementation of this research. While it is firmly established that brick dust has the ability to have a pozzolanic reaction with lime and increased the strength of the concrete. Brick dust also has the capability to react with cement depend on a number of variables which will be discuss at length in this study. The  Specimen used  for compressive strength  were standard cubes of 100mm by 100mm by 100mm and cylinder of 150mm by 150mm (diameter and height) as prescribed by BS 12 1991. Time limitation is also another constraint in this study.

1.4 Statement of Problem                                  

 As a result of the high cost of building materials and The continual increase in the cost of conservative Building materials such as cement, substitute solutions are brought through the use of low cost/waste materials such as brick dust, fly ash, and guinea corn husk ash etc . This brings the need for studies into the use of powdered burnt brick (PBB) as a replacement for cement being the most important ingredient materials used in the production of concrete.

There is need for a simple methods of determining a given brick suitability that can be performed in the field with relative ease, while yielding sensibly accurate and consistent results. Criteria for the ideal field test would include the ability to be performed with limited equipment, limited technical proficiency requirement, and would yield result a relative short amount of time. This is particularly important for project or locales that may not possess the resources or technology that is required to make a thorough study to inform the use of the material.

1.5 Justification of the Study      

This work will serve as reference material for researchers or students knowledge by exposing them to the practical aspect matter and addition to the theoretical aspect. This research work will be of immense important to those that are considering a substitute low cost material to replace cement in concrete production.

1.6 Methodology

This research work was carried out through the review of relevant literatures in, book, journals, monographs and other related data. Base on this the experimental programs were drawn. Casting of  36 cube of  100mm by 100mm by 100mm  and  6 cylinder of 150mm by 150mm (diameter x height) with  0 % , 10% , 20 % and 30%. Of powdered burnt brick replacement for cement (by weight of cement) at 0.35 and 0.40 water cement ratio. The concrete will be cured and tested at end of 3days; 7days; 14 days; 21days and 28days of curing in ordinary water. 5 cubes 3 cylinders samples of each percentage will be crushed at end of each curing day. The specimens where crushed, tested and their compressive strength was determined.

 CHAPTER TWO

2.0                                                      LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 INTRODUCTION

This chapter is presenting a literature review that has been done on this subject so as not to have a duplicated work. Here as the topic is, we will be reviewing literatures on the topic “investigating the strength of high strength concrete using powdered burnt brick as a partial replacement for cement at different water cement ratio”.

2.2 Concrete

Concrete is a construction material composed of cement (commonly Portland cement) as well as other cementitious such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate (generally a coarse aggregate such as gravel, limestone or granite, plus a fine aggregate such as sand), water, and chemical admixtures. The word concrete comes from the Latin word “concretus” (meaning compact or condensed), the past participle of “concresco”, from “com-” (together), and “cresco” (to grow), Topku (2007), defined concrete as a three phased anisotropic brittle material that behaves differently under different variety of loads.