Study on Strength Characteristics of Flyash Based Alccofine Bricks

The main aim of the project is to make a brick with an improved strength characteristics than the normal fly ash brick. This bricks are used for the purpose of heavy load bearing walls, high rise buildings, industrial structures and irrigation structures. The objectives of the project is to determine the optimum mix ratio of the alccofine bricks which gets higher strength characteristics and to get less weight brick. The project work deals with the introducing of a new generation material “ALCCOFINE-1203� of a Supplementary Cementitious Material (SCM) of an ultrafine particle size as an additive into the normal fly ash brick. So which this Alccofine bricks has higher strength characteristics than the normal fly ash brick. The materials used in this bricks are Fly ash, Alccofine- 1203, Lime, Gypsum and Quarry dust. This Alccofine bricks has better strength characteristics such as compressive strength of 24 N/mm², water absorption is 2.52 %, efflorescence is slighter and it satisfies all physical tests such as size, shape & colour test, soundness test. Hardness test and structure test. This brick is made through the process of mixing, casting with the hand mould of non-modular size (220mmx100mmx70mm), Drying (3 days), Curing (21 days) and testing is done. The mixing of material is done at four various mix proportions with casting of three three bricks in each proportions. In which the 3rd proportion (Flyash-42.5%, Alccofine1203-12.5%, Lime-15%, Gypsum-3%, Quarry dust-27%) has given higher strength characteristics than the other three proportions. Therefore this alccofine has better strength characteristics and It is very useful in reducing the dead weight of the structure due to less weight of brick on brick masonry, Due to uniform size of bricks mortar required for joints and plaster is reduced by almost 50%, Due to lower water penetration seepage of water through this brick is considerably reduced. The Indian Standard, Specification for Pulverized fuel ash - lime bricks (IS 12894 (2002)) is mainly referred for making the bricks.