Compressive Strength Characteristics Of a Solid Waste Ash Stabilized Interlocking Masonry Wall

Abstract

Masonry wall is normally composed of two different materials distributed at regular intervals, thus making it weak in tension due to the weak bond. In this study interlocking blocks were used in masonry wall construction in order to introduce uniformity in the wall model by eliminating mortar. The blocks were molded by replacing 2% of municipal solid waste ash (MSWA) as a stabilizing agent and air dried for 28 days. The wall models were loaded in compression in direction normal to bed joints. The 2%MSWA wall model failure was generally associated with diagonal cracks and bulging of the wall from sides. A maximum crack width of 40 mm wide occurred at failure with the central deflection of the wall reaching 20 mm at an ultimate failure stress of 3 N/mm2. The failure mode of un-stabilized wall model was mainly due to vertical cracks forming below the load application point. The cracks in un-stabilized walls formed at a fast rate than for those of stabilized walls. The ultimate failure stress of un-stabilized wall was 3.2 N/mm2, however its central deflection was low than that of stabilized wall. In both cases the strength of individual blocks was higher than that achieved in the wall models. The progression of failure stress cracks for 2%MSWA stabilized wall model was corresponding to that recommended in the code of practice for masonry, thus the same code can be used in design of stabilized masonry walls.