EVALUATION OF PULVERIZED CLAY BRICKS AS A CONCRETE MATERIAL

The high cost conventional building materials is a major factor affecting the construction industry in Nigeria. This present research evaluates the efficacy of pulverized clay bricks as a concrete material. Concrete was produced in the laboratory to reduce effect of climate and the various proportion of the power were investigated. Blended Portland cement were made containing 5, 10 15 and 20% by weight of powder to replace cement in the blended concrete. The coarse aggregate was soaked in water while the fine aggregate was sprinkled with water, thus air dried in the laboratory for 48 hours (2 days) to bring it to approximately saturated surface dry condition before use. The clay was heated to about the temperature of 100°C for 24 hours, ground after cooling and graded in accordance with BS. Laboratory analysis was carried out on the samples and incorporated in the research work involving the use of manual mix and compacted concrete using wooden mould of 15mm by 150mm proper curing. Load testing were carried out at the 3rd 7 th 14th days of age the average compressive strength was found to be high at 28th days for various concrete mix. The result revealed that Pulverize Clay Bricks Concrete (PCBC) had a linear relationship and increase continuously with age base on the concrete mix adopted for the research.