RELATIONSHIP OF PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF MODIFIED TRADITIONAL BRICK WITH REED AS FILLER TO ITS UNCONFINED COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH

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1 RELATIONSHIP OF PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF MODIFIED TRADITIONAL BRICK WITH REED AS FILLER TO ITS UNCONFINED COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH KURNIATI ORNAM 1, MASYKUR KIMSAN 2, LA ODE NGKOIMANI 3, EDI CAHYONO 4 1 Architecture Department of Halu Oleo University, Jl.H.E.A Mokodompit Kampus Hijau Bumi Tridharma, Anduonohu Kendari, INDONESIA 2 Civil Department of Halu Oleo University, Jl.H.E.A Mokodompit Kampus Hijau Bumi Tridharma, Anduonohu Kendari, INDONESIA 3 Geology Engineering Department of Halu Oleo University, Jl.H.E.A Mokodompit Kampus Hijau Bumi Tridharma, Anduonohu Kendari, INDONESIA 4 Mathematics Department of Halu Oleo University, Jl.H.E.A Mokodompit Kampus Hijau Bumi Tridharma, Anduonohu Kendari, INDONESIA kurniati.ornam@yahoo.co.id Abstract: - Eco friendly materials in building construction has gained serious attention in light of the paramount importance of sustainability in recent decades. Waste-create bricks using recycled materials as filler e.g. rice husk, and sawdust had indicated that they may be utilized as building materials since they meet minimum requirement from standard of housing or building material. Reed, one of hygroscopic plant, may potentially be developed as an option for modified bricks. The experimental test was conducted in home industry and laboratory to measure some physical and mechanical properties i.e. linear shrinkage, loss on ignition, water absorption, density and compressive strength. The result shows that there is fluctuated trend on linear shrinkage and loss on ignition, while almost slight linear trend on water absorption and density. Based on simple correlation test between physical properties and compressive strength, it is merely on water absorption that has high mark for about 60% reliability compared to the other properties. Key-Words: - reed content, modified bricks, physical properties, compressive strength, correlation. 1 Introduction There must be inexorable rise of housing demand, not to mention its building material e.g. bricks, since population growth and issue on sustainability have been put into consideration in government policy [1,2]. Demanding challenge is on how to design building materials so called environmentally friendly and still meet requirement affirmed on building code [2]. Previous research on sawdust as filler on brick has shown better performance than conventional brick for approximately 40% difference [1]. Furthermore, other waste-create bricks have demonstrated that they may be utilized as alternative for building materials since they meet requirement as stated on code. Currently, following serious concern on environment, researchers are keen to the new building materials, for instance clay bricks that have wastes as filler or additives, especially the organic ones [3]. Reed as an organic material, and also classified as hygroscopic plant and invasively irritating plant, is expected to be an alternative for brick s filler. This will be better for environment without compromising with the standard requirement for building material. Porosity may increase when additives is molded together with clay prior to burning process and yield consequences on physical properties for different amount and type of matter used [4]. However, during burning process, the organic filler may result in decrease in density, thermal conductivity, and unfortunately the mechanical resistance [4,5]. Negative gradient on plasticity might occur at the mixture by increasing the water demand to obtain better composition [6]. For that reason it is of paramount importance to obtain an optimum solution to produce a competitive brick. More demanding challenge is on how to control those properties when the bricks are produced in home industry scale. Traditional technique is often roughly measured in its quality control and quality assurance, relatively compared to production in large scale industries. Little improvement in the technique may possibly yield better performance of the bricks. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct an experimental test that is performed in work shed and ISBN:

2 laboratory to keep the measurement in control. Simple statistical analysis, especially to accommodate the correlation between the physical properties due to the additional amount of pores and the mechanical properties i.e. compressive strength. Fig.3 Production Process in Home Industry Fig.1 Modified Brick with Reed as Filler 2. Method This research was conduted by combining examintaion on production shed in home industry and in laboratory. In work shed, activities included mixing, molding, drying, burning and arrangement. On the other hand, in laboratory did include sieve analysis, atterberg limit, water absorption and compressive strength test of modified bricks. Fig. 2 Laboratory Work Clay and green reed that achieved 1 meter high were used as raw materials. Then, reed is dried by direct sunlight until the colour changed from green to brown for approximately 4 (four) days. Following that process, the reeds were then cut in small pieces with 1,2 cm in length by using knife or cutters. Next, modified bricks production was carried out in work shed. In mixing process, some compositions of clay and reed were examined i.e. 2:0,2 (9%); 2:0,3 (13%); 3:0,4 (17%); 2:0,5 (20%); 2:0,6 (23%); 2:0,7 (26%); 2:0,8 (29%); 2:0,9 (31%); and 2:1 (33%). Clay was mixed with fine reed and certain amount of water until they could be shaped and unattachable. Subsequently, the 30 bricks for each compostion were molded in certain size of rectangular mold (21 x 11 x 5 cm 3 ). After that, the bricks were dried naturally in direct sunlight and wind. Dried bricks were then arranged in rectangular position to be burned where firewoods were used. The furnace was a pile of bricks above the ground for approximately cm in depth where there was a hollow for the place of firewood. The burning process was conducted for 2 (two) days. After that, unloading process took place. Production process was also performed in laboratory to compare the result with in the work shed. The difference were in the drying process of reed and brick where oven was used to carry out this process and utilization of blender to refine the reeds. Moreover, burning process was subtituted by stove, zinc plate and alluminium foil which is expected to gain uniform heat transfer. The burning temperature was measured and maintained at approximately 400 o C on bricks, with approximately 350 o C of fire temperature. Bricks from both place of production were then examined to obtain the mechanical and physical properties. Server physical properties of these porous clay bricks were determined: linear shrinkage, loss on ignition, density and water absorption. Furthermore, it is merely compressive strength being evaluated for mechanical properties. Some simple statistical analysis were performed to evaluate every properties, then they were included in correlation analysis and the R Square parameter ISBN:

3 3. Result & Discussion Based on physical measurement data, it can be generally seen that linear correlation does not perform properly between reed content and the physical properties. At some juncture, the data shows linear trend. However, the trend turn out to be fluctuated after that. Furthermore, it works similarly on compressive strength. As shown on figure 4, the linear shrinkage indicates negative correlation with the reed content until 20%, from 3.85% to 1.03% and varies afterwards. In addition, there is significant different value between the highest and the lowest value for approximately 86%. Therefore, reed content may have influence on linear shrinkage. Next, As can be seen on figure 6, water absorption of this modified brick does not follow the typical trend of previous properties. There is slight difference between the highest and the lowest value i.e % and 14.33% respectively. Yet, the modified bricks show higher water absorption than conventional bricks for approximately 24% difference. In average, the water absorption will vary to some extent around 15.45%. Hence, addition of reed as filler will increase the water absorption, but the reed content will not necessarily change the properties value. Fig 6. Water Absorption Fig 4. Linear Shrinkage Then, after comparing the mass loss of the modified bricks between drying and burning stage, the loss on ignition properties demonstrates fluctuated trend as shown on figure 5. The highest mark is 25% at 13% reed content, while the lowest is 7.14% at each 20%, 23% and 29% reed content. Although there is considerable difference between those two values for about 72%, an advance approximation with regard to diffusion rate need to be established to provide precise trend to this properties. As shown on figure 7, the density trend appears to be relatively comparable to water absorption in terms of the difference between the highest (2043 kg/m 3 ) and the lowest (1494 kg/m 3 ). The average is around 1683 kg/m 3 with 10% deviation. Irregularities in heat transfer and similar burning time at burning stage may be probably the cause of why the reed content does not perform linear correlation to density. Fig 7. Brick s Density Fig 5. Loss on Ignition Furthermore, as can be seen on figure 8, the compressive strength, one of the mechanical properties, seems to akin to last two physical properties. The average value of compressive strength is approximately 11.7 Mpa with the highest value reaches 12.4 MPa. The modified brick ISBN:

4 perform better compared to the conventional brick. Since [7-11] required at least 10 Mpa to be utilized as building material, these bricks are applicable for construction of housing. different composition of reed might result in better influence. Indeed, little improvement of quality control and quality assurence in brick production in this scale might also determine the precise and accurate result of physical and mecahnical properties. This will not increase the total cost, but it is solidly recommended for better quality of traditional modified bricks production. Fig 8. Compressive Strength Table 1. Statistical Parameters Average Std.dev CCS RSQCS Linear Shrinkage 1,78 1,18-0,14 0,02 Loss of Ignition 13,63 6,17-0,21 0,04 Water Absorption 15,45 0,63 0,78 0,61 Density 1682,44 164,74 0,35 0,13 After conducting straighforward linear correlation between the physical properties and the compressive strength, in general, the linear shrinkage and loss on ignition show negative correlation to compressive strength but not necessarily significant. On the other hand, water absorption and density share positive correlation, but merely the water absorption that yield considerable R Square value i.e. 61%. 4. Conclusion Traditional home made industry of bricks with reed as filler have demonstrated that in terms of compressive strength, every composition meets the requirement for bricks as building material. Both linear shrinkage and loss on ignition share fluctuated trend, and require advance formulation to model the trend and diffusion rate. While, water absorption and density perform relatively uniform characteristics for different reed content, and have different value with the conventional brick. Conservatively, it can be concluded that water absorption will provide relatively better correlation to compressive strength than the other properties. Then, control of temperature through bricks arrangement including precise burning time for References: [1] Ornam K., Kimsan M, Cahyono E. Evaluation of Alternative Design of Hollow Brick with Sawdust as Filler for Home-Made Industry. Proceeding of 4th International Conference on Energy Systems, Environment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, pp , February Dubai. [2] S.P. Raut, R.V. Ralegaonkar, S.A. Mandavgane, Development of Sustainable Material Using Industrial and Agricultural Solid Waste: A Review of Waste-Create Bricks, J Construction and Building Materials 2011; 25: [3] Turgut P. Bulent Y. Physico-Mechanical and Thermal Performances of Newly Develop Rubber-Added Bricks. Energy Build 2008; 40: [4] Aliche-Quesada, D., Martinez, S.., Perez- Vilarejo, L, Iglesias-Godino, F.J., Martinez- Garcia, C, Corpas-Iglesias, F.A.,. Volarization of Biodiesel Production Residues in Making Porous Clay Brick. Fuel Process. Technol. 2012a; 103, [5] Banhidi, V., Gomze, LA. Improvement of Insulation Properties of Conventional Brick Produsts, Materials Science Forum, 2008; 589, pp.1-6. [6] Demir, I., Serhat Baspinar, M., Orhan, M. Utilization of Kraft Pulp Production Residues in Clay Brick Production. Buid. Environ 2005; 40, [7] ASTM C216. Standard Specification for Facing Brick Philadelphia; American Society for Testing and Material; [8] ASTM C652. Standard Specification for Hollow Brick (Hollow Masonry Units Made ISBN:

5 from Clay or Shale); American Society for Testing and Material; [9] ASTM C67. Standard Test Methods for Sampling and Testing Brick and Structural Clay Tile; American Society for Testing and Material; [10] ASTM C62. Standard Specification for Building Brick (Solid Masonry Units Made from Clay or Shale); American Society for Testing and Material; [11] ASTM D Standard Practice for Clasification of Soils for Engineering Purposes; American Society for Testing and Material; ISBN: