Experimental study on strength and endurance performance of burnt clay bricks incorporating marble waste

Burnt clay brick is one of the oldest and most widely used construction materials. The production of burnt clay bricks with various waste materials can help reduce the environmental hazards and improve brick performance at low manufacturing costs, thereby leading towards more sustainable construction. This research aimed to evaluate the effect of using waste marble powder (WMP) in varying percentages, i.e., 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15%, by weight of clay in an industrial brick kiln plant. A range of mechanical and durability tests was performed on the raw material, i.e., clay, WMP, and bricks, to quantify their performance. It was observed that incorporation of WMP resulted in a reduced unit weight of the bricks, making the structure lighter in weight. Moreover, compressive strength and freeze thaw test results for all the brick specimens and sulfate tests for the brick specimens with 12% WMP addition were within the Building Code of Pakistan, and ASTM C67 prescribed limits. Finally, it can be concluded that WMP up to 12% by weight of clay can be incorporated to prepare burnt clay bricks, which can reduce the environmental waste to achieve sustainability and economy for the brick industry.