ASSESSING THE SUITABILITY OF GROUND GRANULATED BLAST FURNACE SLAG IN THE MANUFACTURING OF UNFIRED CLAY BRICKS
| dc.contributor.author | BAK KAU NAK | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-02-20T07:12:22Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-02-20T07:12:22Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025-12-11 | |
| dc.description | UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH | |
| dc.description.abstract | The proposed research and design project is a final year study, which was carried out between May and November 2025 at Uganda Christian University to determine the applicability of Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS) as a stabiliser in the production of unfired clay bricks that can be used in the construction process. The poor compressive and high-water absorption of the unfired clay bricks in Namakwekwe, Mbala, Uganda, led to the study. The study entailed laboratory characterization of the local clay soils, such as, particle size distribution, Atterberg limits, Chemical; composition and specific gravity of the soils after which blending experiments were conducted including addition of GGBS at various proportions. The resulting brick specimens were subject to standard tests which determine compressive strength, water absorption capability, bulk density, efflorescence, and load-bearing capacity as per the international standards e.g. BS 1377:1990, ASTM C67, and EN 1996-2:2006. It was found out that inclusion of GGBS considerably enhanced the mechanical and serviceability attributes of unfired clay bricks. Best mix ratios gave compressive strengths above the minimum needed of 3.5 MPa, as well as water absorption values decreased to the control range of 12-15%. GGBS led to increased particle interlocking and helped the creation of cementitious gels thus, increasing cohesion and decreasing shrinkage cracking. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12311/3152 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Uganda Christian University | |
| dc.title | ASSESSING THE SUITABILITY OF GROUND GRANULATED BLAST FURNACE SLAG IN THE MANUFACTURING OF UNFIRED CLAY BRICKS | |
| dc.type | Thesis |