Properties Of Alternative Building Block Made Of Expanded Polyestyrene (EPS) Beads

Abstract

Environment pollution is the most concerned issue in today’s world. Construction Industries is one of the largest sectors to pollute the environment. In Bangladesh, burnt clay block is the most commonly used building material which produce a significant amount of greenhouse gasses. For a better environment, alternative sustainable building material is a must. This study appraises alternative building materials and technologies as a walling material. Burnt clay block have been used for long in building construction and its demand is increasing rapidly with the passage of time. In the burning process of clay block air is polluted and necessary clay is collected from agricultural land. As a result, agricultural land is being diminished. So alternative building block can be the possible solution of the disadvantages of burnt clay block. In this thesis project we completed using 0% EPS Beads, 5% EPS Beads, 10% and 15% EPS Beads respectively. And here is also added admixture for compressive strength. EPS was used as partial aggregate replacement of volume in the mixes. Bricks of 9.5inch x 4.5inch x 2.75 inches in size were prepared in this study. The engineering properties of the bricks were investigated. Among the properties studied were hardened concrete density, compressive strength and water absorption of the EPS concrete bricks. Four types of curing conditions were employed in this study. These include full water curing, air dry curing,3-day curing and 28-day curing. The water absorption of block with EPS beads and admixture 0%, 5%, 10% and 15% EPS beads are 6.7%, 7.2%,7.7% and 7.0% respectively. On the other side water absorption of block with EPS beads and without admixture 0%, 5%,10% and 15% EPS beads are 5.1%, 6.2%,6.6% and 5.9% respectively .This Values are less than the absorption of clay brick. It was found that in the 0%, 5%,10% and 15% EPS beads with admixture are 3172psi, 3417psi, 3470psi and 2885 psi respectively. Here 0% and 15% EPS beads are less then clay block with 3300 psi on the other hand 5% and 10% are more then clay block in compressive strength. The minimum compressive strength of block is 1500 psi. So in construction using block from EPS beads with admixture is better than other types