Enhancing Properties of Unfired Clay Bricks Using Palm Fronds and Palm Seeds

• Published in: Results in engineering 2022-12, Vol.16, p.100632, Article 100632
• Main Authors: Niyomukiza, John Bosco, Nabitaka, Karen Cathy, Kiwanuka, Moses, Tiboti, Paul, Akampulira, Joseph
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Palm fronds; Palm seeds; Unfired clay bricks
• ISSN: 2590-1230; 2590-1230
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rineng.2022.100632

The building industry has been thriving all around the world. With global advancement, particularly in technology, real estate development is evolving with the ongoing adoption of new tactics. The current study investigates the performance of palm fronds and palm seeds in enhancing the properties of unfired clay bricks as construction materials. The methodologies used to attain the study's objectives were; determining particle size distribution and Atterberg limits of clay soil, efflorescence, compressive strength, water absorption, and fire resistance of bricks, which were used to give the most appropriate percent of palm fronds and palm seeds for robust bricks. The study required experimental research of the materials used and samples made. Using particle size distribution and Atterberg limits, the soil was classified as clayey soil and low to medium plasticity soil. Batching by weight was achieved using a weighing scale and substitution technique to obtain the proportions of contents in samples. Sample 5, which contained 80% clay, and 20% palm fronds, and sample 6, which contained 65% clay, 25% palm seeds, and 10% palm fronds, passed all the tests. Samples 5 and 6, under efflorescence check, confirmed slight responses where 10% of the brick was covered with a skinny deposit of salts. Under compressive strength, samples 5 and 6 recorded 4.23 N/mm2 and 3.85 N/mm2, respectively, which were more significant than the required minimum compressive strength of fired bricks. For water absorption, they attained a moisture content of 18.1% and 16.1%, respectively, which was in the range of 16–20% under second-class bricks. All bricks passed the fire resistance test, which confirmed that they had a reasonable safety factor. In conclusion, mixes of samples 5 and 6 are recommended to produce robust bricks. •Several studies suggest the use agricultural wastes in civil engineering.•The use of palm fronds and palm seeds was investigated in the current study.•Palm fronds and palms seeds increased the performance results of unfired clay bricks.•Low concentrations of palm seeds and palm fronds produced strong unfired clay bricks.•All the samples passed the fire resistance test, which indicated that their performance when exposed to fire under construction was good.