Effectiveness of replacing cement partially with waste brick powder in mortar

Abstract

This investigation was aimed at finding the optimum replacement level of waste brick powder (WBP) as a partial replacement of cement. For this purpose, three groups of tests are made: fresh, mechanical, and permeation properties. Eight mixes with different percentages of replacing ratios are as follows: 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, and 50%. In addition to the reference mix without powder replacements, the experimental programs include three groups of tests: fresh properties (flow test and fresh density), mechanical properties (dry density, compressive strength, and flexural strength), and transport properties (water absorption ratio, rate of water absorption, i.e., sorptivity, and permeable void ratio). Also, an ultrasonic velocity impulse test was made. The flowability and density of fresh mixes are decreased linearly as the amount of WBP increases for the constant water/binder ratio. However, the density of the in-hardened state was found to be slightly higher than the reference mix for mixes with a brick powder content of up to 20%. Results indicate that strengths for mixes containing WBP are higher than those for the control mix. The highest strength was examined in the mix with 15% WBP for both compressive and tensile strengths of specimens. Generally, the brick powder reduced the ability of mortar to transfer liquid, as was clear from the results of the permeability test results. Empirical relations were proposed according to experimental results.