Faculty of Engineering, Design and Technology

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Using Salvaged Steel Fibres From Waste Tyres As Reinforcement in Unfired Earth Bricks
(Uganda Christian University, 2025-04-13) Ahabwe Amon
This research determined the suitability of using salvaged steel fibers from waste tires as reinforcement in unfired earth bricks. The bricks made in Bugonya village are prone to detrimental cracking and a resulting compressive strength of 3.54 N/mm2 which makes them unfit for use in works of a permanent nature. To deal with this, soil samples were collected from the village tests done on them and bricks cast with percentages of 4,6 and 8 steel addition. The bricks including controls were tested for water absorption and compressive strength at 7 and 28 days. The results showed that the brick compressive strength and water absorption improved with addition of more steel fibres within the brick matrix. The optimum addition was 8% with a compressive strength of 2.5Mpa and water absorption of 9.6 which all met the design requirements for such a brick. The findings indicate that the fibres can be added to bricks within the village to reinforce the bricks and put-up permanent structures. Further research can be carried out on the effect of varying the lengths of the steel fibres that are added into the brick matrix.