FLY-ASH BASED VIBRO-PRESSED INTER-LOCKING BLOCKS

Abstract

The disposal of fly-ash is an international problem, which is Met. \-iing with increase in number of thermal power stations. Our country is producing fly'- €, at the rate of 50 million tonnes/year from 70 thermal power stations. It is also expel I that \ production will be in the excess of 100 million tonnes/year by the end of 200b \ D. Presently, 40,000 hectare land area is under ash ponds for the disposal of this am \t of fly-ash and also Rs. 700 crores are incurred to transport the Ash to selected A \\ ponds. To solve this problem, flyash is used in some constructive ways to convert it\ from waste to wealth like concrete blocks, bricks, in construction of roads and dams, in portland cement raw mix,etc. — In this dissertation work stress has been given on the use of flyash in ant- interlocking blocks/ which ,is- made by high fly-ash content concrete (HFCC). An experimental and theoretical investigation has been carried out, the effect of various dosages of flyash (50%, 60%, 70% and 80%) by solid volumes on the compressive strength of high flyash content concrete (HFCC). For this purpose more than 80 specimens were casted with various dosages of fly-ash. A compaction equipment with vibro or surcharge _loading .of wet HFCC mixes was developed. The densities of specimens were observed for each increment in Vibro-loading intensity. Finally, an optimum value of compaction pressure was recommended to 0.022 N/mm2. The quantity of cement required for Compacted high fly-ash content concrete (HFCC) with 50, 60, 70 and 80% flyash was 150.66, 130.13 107.79 and 76.58 kg per cubic metre respectively, where as the required cement in conventional concrete was 225.85 kg/m3. The viability of these blocks finally has been established.