OYSTER SHELL AND SUGARCANE BAGASSE ASH AS COMPONENTS FOR

CEMENT IN CONCRETE BRICKS

A Research Paper Presented to

Senior High School Department of
University of San Agustin

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements in

Practical Research 12/13

Members

AGURO, FREDINEL MICHAEL G.

ALBANCES, ARIEL JOHN A.

ALORO, PAULO J.

CAGALITAN, TRISTA SUZZANE G.

DASAL, AMOR B.

HILARIO, ROMEO B.

MONTAÑO, CARL JOSEPH GREGORE D.

SESBREÑO, RJAN MICHAEL G.

December 7, 2023
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Introduction

Background of the Study

Every year, over 5 million tons of related waste are illegally disposed, causing

severe pollution and environmental damage (Bellei et al., 2023). Oyster shell waste

causes siltation and eutrophication in bays, as well as odors and insect attraction. In the

Philippines, especially in Capiz and Iloilo in Western Visayas, there is an abundant

production of oyster shells, where shell farming is one of the major livelihoods of the

local communities. However, empty seashells are of no use and are commonly ignored

as waste. These shells are thrown everywhere, resulting in a large amount of waste

going into the environment (Hapinat & Campus, 2019).

Moreover, sugarcane bagasse ash is a biomass waste resulting from sugarcane

bagasse burning (calcination) for electricity production. The sugarcane industry plays an

important role and holds a significant share in the economy of many countries. As its

production increases, the amount of ash (waste) generated will also increase,

contributing to the ongoing issue of biomass waste management. These ashes are often

disposed of in landfills without any environmental control or, in some cases, used as

fertilizer (Francioso et al., 2022).

Addressing these problems, studies are focused on the potential use of oyster

shells and sugarcane bagasse ash in the construction industry. This is due to the

chemical composition of these materials. Oyster shells are mostly or approximately 96%

Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3), a compound that is used as an aggregate of limestone for

cement (Silva et al., 2019). Sugarcane bagasse ash, on the other hand, is mainly

composed of Silica (SiO2 – 60.94%), Alumina (Al2O3 – 14.83%), and Iron (II) Oxide (FeO
 3

– 12.81%), which are also found in the chemical composition of cement (Bachtiar et al.,

2019).

In the review of Ruslan et al. (2022), the use of oyster shells is investigated as

cement and substitute in the composition of concrete. Oyster shells are converted into

ash and powder and the experimentation is separately done. The result of the

investigation has the oyster shell powder performing better than oyster shell ash. Oyster

shell powder as cement substitute helped the compressive strength and flexural strength

of concrete with different ratios but the same curing days.

Furthermore, to Seo et al. (2019), oyster shells are calcinated and used as

cement substitute in mortar. In their findings, it is approximately 3% relative to the mass

of cement that is recommended to enhance the compressive strength and autogenous

shrinkage of mortar.

Additionally, the study of Han et al. (2022) added blast furnace slag to oyster

shell powder replacement in the cement component of concrete. The compressive

strength increases with small amount of oyster shell powder and improved the electrical

resistivity of concrete by the synergy of oyster shell powder with the blast furnace slag.

Regarding sugarcane bagasse ash, it is used as pozzolanic material in concrete

in the study of Thomas et al., (2021). The study concludes that there are improvements

in concrete performance, including strength gain due to increased pozzolanic reactions,

low heat of hydration, and reduced permeability due to pore refinement bagasse ash

blended concrete.

In the study of Hussein and Oan (2022), sugarcane bagasse ash is used as

replacement for cement in mortar and concrete. It is concluded that the optimum

replacement of sugarcane bagasse ash to cement is 5% in both mortar and concrete at

 4

28 days of curing. This is because it showed the highest compression and split tension

in both mortar and concrete experiments.

While these existing studies and practices addressed the problem of oyster

shells and sugarcane bagasse ash as wastes by using these materials in cement, no

study addressed the use of sugarcane bagasse ash combined into oyster shell in the

cement component of brick mixture. The lack of information on the compatibility of

bagasse ash and oyster shells as dual constituents in cement for brick production draws

the need for a research study to bridge the gap and provide insights into the feasibility,

benefits, and potential challenges associated with their joint application in sustainable

construction materials.

This present study primarily focuses on the utilization of oyster shells and

sugarcane bagasse ash. The study also aims to further explore the potential of these

wastes in construction. It seeks to address the issue by investigating how the use of

oyster shell cement and sugarcane bagasse ash as supplementary cementitious

material (SCM) can affect the mechanical properties of the resulting bricks.

Additionally, through rigorous analysis of the physical and chemical properties of

the oyster shell cement and sugarcane bagasse ash, the collected data and information

will facilitate the determination of the most optimal ratios for oyster shell with sugarcane

bagasse ash in the cement component of brick.

Statement of the Problem

The researchers aim to find the effectiveness of bricks with oyster shell powder

and sugarcane bagasse ash as part components of cement in bricks in terms of its

compressive strength, and water absorptiveness.

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Specifically, the researchers seek to answer the following questions:

1. What are the compressive strengths of bricks with the cement component is

incorporated with oyster shell powder and sugarcane bagasse ash given the

different treatments?

2. What are the water absorptiveness percentages of bricks with the cement

component is incorporated with oyster shell powder and sugarcane bagasse

ash given the different treatments?

3. Are there any significant differences on the compressive strengths and water

absorptiveness percentages of bricks with the cement component is

incorporated with oyster shell powder and sugarcane bagasse ash given the

treatments ratios from the control brick?

Hypothesis

There are significant differences between the outcomes of the different

treatments when compared to the control brick in terms of compressive strength and

water absorptiveness.

Conceptual Framework

Oyster shells, containing Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3) which serves as the

reactant of Calcium Oxide (CaO) product that is used in Portland cement, is a factor due

to its chemical composition is alike to some compounds found in cement (Bellei et al.,

2023). Sugarcane bagasse ash, on the other hand, is rich in Silica, Alumina, and Iron (II)

Oxide, the compounds found in cement as well (Thomas et al., 2021).

 6

This study highlights the use of oyster shell powder and sugarcane bagasse ash

as cement substitutes in varying ratios. The independent variables include the

components of cement in bricks for the experiment such as regular cement, oyster shell

powder, and sugarcane bagasse ash with constant sand and other aggregates. Three

ratios are made from these variables. Ratio 1 is composed of 70% cement (469 g), 20%

Oyster Shell Powder (134 g), and 10% Sugarcane Bagasse Ash (67 g). Ratio 2 is

composed of 70% cement, 15% Oyster Shell Powder (100.5 g), and 15% Sugarcane

Bagasse Ash (100.5 g). Ratio 3 is composed of 70% cement, 10% Oyster Shell Powder

(67 g), and 20% Sugarcane Bagasse Ash (134 g).

The formed bricks out of these ratios will then be tested by its compressive

strength and its water absorptiveness. These parameters are the dependent variables of

the study.

Figure 1. Concept Map of Independent Variables and Dependent Variables.

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Significance of the Study

The findings of this research will prove useful to the following entities:

Construction Companies.

The result of this study will benefit construction companies by integrating these

materials into brick production.

Architects and Engineers.

This study provides innovative and effective strategies for architects and

engineers. It provides and adopts more sustainable practices in the construction

industry.

Cement and Brick Manufacturers.

This study will benefit cement and brick manufacturers by providing a new

potential source of raw materials for cement production.

Future Researchers.

This will benefit future researchers by helping them understand effective methods

for sustainable waste solutions and explore developing sustainable construction

practices in the construction industry.

Scope and Delimitation of the Study

This study focuses on the utilization of oyster shells and sugarcane bagasse ash

from Panay Island Western Visayas, as an alternative component for cement in brick

production. The study is limited to the direct utilization of oyster shell waste and
 8

sugarcane bagasse ash in cement brick production, and findings may not be directly

applicable to other construction materials or practices.

The study will collect the oyster shell samples from the area of Villa, Iloilo City,

specifically from the restaurants that sell oysters. Sugar Cane Bagasse Ash (SCBA) will

be collected from leftovers of processed sugar canes in URC Passi Sugar Milling Plant,

located in Barangay Man-it, Passi City.

The study primarily focuses on the compatibility and feasibility of combining

oyster shell waste and sugarcane bagasse ash as dual components in cement for brick

production, and other factors influencing brick production are not extensively addressed.

The durability testing which includes compressive, tensile strength, and absorptiveness

is limited to the assessment of oyster shell cement and sugarcane bagasse ash in brick

production materials and does not include a comprehensive evaluation of the entire

structural lifespan of the bricks.

The ratio to be used in the experiments is 670 g: 2000 g: 270 g cement-sand-

water ratio of bricks. This is derived from the DPWH Class A Mixture that can produce 75

bricks in 50 kg: 150 kg: 20 L cement-sand-water ratio (1L = 1kg).

Definition of Terms

1. Cement - a hydraulic binder made of finely ground inorganic substance (CaO)

that, when combined with water, becomes a paste that may bind solid matter

fragments together to create a compact complete solid (Lavagna, 2022).

In this study, “Cement” refers to the component of concrete brick where it

is experimentalized by partly substituting it with Oyster Shells and Sugarcane

Bagasse Ash.
 9

2. Compressive Strength - the ability of material to resist the direct pressure of

applied compression force (Marković et al., 2016)

In this study, “Compressive Strength” refers to one of the parameters

used in analyzing the strength and durability of the brick by applying compressive

force through a compression test machine.

3. Concrete Brick – a classification of brick having around 24.52 MPa compressive

strength, and 11.23% water absorptiveness (Hossain, 2021), with primary

components are cement, sand, and other aggregates with a small amount of

water (Sahu et al., 2016).

In this study, “Concrete Brick” refers to the type of brick where its cement

component is experimentalized by partially substituting it with Oyster Shell and

Sugarcane Bagasse Ash.

4. Oyster Shell (OS) - a residue rich in calcium carbonate, which can be reused as

a raw material for creating building material (Bellei et al., 2023)

In this study, “Oyster Shell,” abbreviated as “OS,” refers to one of the

substitutes in the cement component of bricks that focuses mainly on the CaO

component of cement.

5. Sugarcane Bagasse Ash (SCBA) - a multi-processed by-product produced from

the milling of sugarcane (Webber III et al., 2015) that is rich in Silica, Alumina,

and Iron (II) Oxide (Bachtiar et al., 2019).

 10

In this study, “Sugarcane Bagasse Ash,” abbreviated as “SCBA,” refers to

one of the substitutes in the cement component of bricks that focuses mainly on

the SiO2 component of cement.

6. Water Absorptiveness - the amount of water absorbed by a material and is

calculated as the ratio of the weight of water absorbed to the weight of the dry

material (Siddique et al., 2020)

In this study, “Absorptiveness” refers to one of the parameters used in

analyzing how much water can the dry brick absorb.

 11

Review of Related Literature

Standard or Traditional Cement Brick

Standard and conventional bricks are made by mixing the earth-based or raw

materials, molding the bricks, drying then firing, or by using ordinary Portland cement

(OPC) to produce bricks (Al-Fakih et al., 2018). In the study of Lanante et al. (2020) that

is based in Biliran, Philippines, traditional cement bricks have a 1:5 cement to sand

volumetric ratio. However, there is a different ratio that is also put into practice but in the

other part of the Philippines. According to D. Dasal (personal communications,

December 7, 2023), a licensed civil engineer based on Roxas City, Capiz, Western

Visayas, Philippines, the Department of Public Works and Highways Class A mixture for

concrete bricks has a ratio of simplified 1:3:0.4 in terms of cement-sand-water ratio. In

expanded ratio, the given information is 50:150:20 cement-sand-water ratio in kilograms.

In terms of its size, the dimension of the brick is 7.625 in. by 3.625 in. by 2.25 in. in

length-width-height.

Moreover, the bricks are specified and classified differently in various

international standard codes, depending upon the importance of structures and the

severity of environmental conditions (Murmu & Patel 2018). They can also be classified

based on their constituent materials such as common burnt clay bricks, sand lime bricks,

engineering bricks, concrete bricks, fly ash clay bricks, etc. (Hossain, 2021).

Furthermore, Hossain (2021) classified bricks in terms of its compressive

strength and water absorptiveness.

 Poor. Compressive strength of 0 MPa to 3 MPa; Water absorptiveness of

more than 25% of brick dry weight.

 12

 Slightly Poor. Compressive strength of more than 3 MPa to 7.5 MPa;

Water absorptiveness of 22% to percentage less than 25% of brick dry

weight.

 Moderate. Compressive strength of more than 7.5 MPa to 10 MPa; Water

absorptiveness of 20% to percentage less than 22% of brick dry weight.

 Good. Compressive strength of more than 10 MPa to 14 MPa; Water

absorptiveness of 16% to 19% of brick dry weight.

 Excellent. Compressive strength of more than 14 MPa; Water

absorptiveness of less than 15% of brick dry weight.

Concrete Bricks

Concrete bricks or concrete blocks are made with cement, sand, and other

aggregates with a small amount of water, then blowing the mixture into molds (Sahu et

al., 2016). In the study of Hossain (2021), concrete brick is one of the classifications of

bricks with its own features in terms of compressive strength and absorptiveness. It had

a compressive strength of around 250 kg/cm2 (3555.84 psi), and absorptiveness of

11.23% relative to the mass.

Oyster Shells

Oyster shell is the hard, protective outer covering of an oyster. It is primarily

composed of calcium carbonate, which provides strength and rigidity to the shell. Oyster

shells are commonly used in various applications, such as poultry feed supplements,

gardening and landscaping, soil amendments, and calcium supplements for humans and

animals. They can also be crushed and used as a natural source of calcium in

agricultural practices to improve soil pH and promote plant growth. Additionally, oyster
 13

shell can be used in construction materials, such as concrete, to enhance durability and

reduce environmental impact (Ruslan et al., 2022).

One of these construction materials where oyster shells were incorporated is the

lateritic soil from the study of Etim et al. (2020). The emphasized purpose of lateritic soil

in the study is for road construction and oyster shells, in ash form, improved the

condition of the lateritic soil, specifically its plasticity index. The ash decreases the

plasticity or softness of the soil, providing more stable base for road construction. This is

due to the Calcium Carbonate present in oyster shells, that is a need in a deficient

lateritic soil.

Another use of oyster shells is its incorporation to cement in mortar that is

explored in the study of Liao et al. (2022). Oyster shells are calcinated and powdered

and made as partial replacement of cement in mortar in varying ratios. The addition of

oyster shell powder improves durability and reduces water absorption, permeability, and

chloride ion diffusion coefficients. Optimal WOS powder content is 8%, resulting in

improved mechanical properties and durability.

Sugarcane Bagasse Ash

Sugarcane is a crop cultivated globally, with over 1.5 billion metric tons produced

annually. After extracting juice for sugar production, the fibrous residue left behind is

called sugarcane bagasse (SCB). Bagasse, considered waste, is a by-product of the

sugarcane industry. SCB has a high silica content, making it a useful pozzolanic material

with a crystalline and amorphous structure. The amorphous silica in bagasse ash is a

useful replacement for cement in concrete. Researchers have explored incorporating

bagasse in brick manufacturing by replacing some of its components (Mangi et al.,

2017).
 14

The effects of sugarcane bagasse ash were also explored to other construction

materials such as pavement concrete and stone mastic asphalt. Chindaprasirt et al.

(2019) explored the use of bagasse ash in pavement concrete. The pavement concretes

containing bagasse ash of 20 and 40 % with compressive strengths not less than 17.5

MPa as required by ACI 211 for a normal weight concrete showed good durability in

terms of abrasion resistance and acid resistance. Another study is from Ganesh and Rai

(2020) where bagasse ash is used in stone mastic asphalt. Bagasse ash is used as a

filler material in different ratios. The mix containing up to 5% bagasse ash performed

better than conventional mixes. Bagasse ash can decrease drain down of bitumen for

stone mastic asphalt mixtures without fibers.

Review of Related Studies

In the study of Bunyamin and Mukhlis (2020), oyster shells are used as substitute

part of cement and fine aggregate of concrete. The general objective of the study is to

utilize oyster shells that are wasted from Krueng Neng, Aceh Besar, Indonesia.

Moreover, the specific objectives of the study are to determine the density and the

compressive strength of hardened concrete with the addition of oyster shell ash and

grain. The study used quasi-experimental research design which compared the results

of different tests in the product bricks. The independent variables include the amounts or

ratios of oyster shell ash and grains to be substituted to cement and the water-cement

ratios, and the dependent variables are the resulting compressive strengths and

densities of the bricks to be formed out of oyster shell cement. The type of oyster shell

used is Crassostrea Gigas. The oyster shells were burned at a temperature of 200˚C in

a drum or burn barrel. The burned oyster shells were then crushed in a Los Angeles

Abrasion Test machine. The process followed a manual pressing through a crusher. After
 15

crushing, the oyster shells were sieved at a #200 sieve for cement and 2.36 mm sieve

for fine aggregates.

The replacement of cement and fine aggregate with ash and oyster shell grain at

5%, 10%, and 15% content affected the compressive strength of the concrete. With a

0.50 water-cement ratio (50 lbs. water: 100 lbs. cement), out of the other 0.40 and 0.60

ratios, the highest compressive strength is obtained at a 5% replacement of cement with

33 MPa (4786.25 psi). This study only explores the effects of oyster shell ash and grains

as partial substitute to cement in the compressive strength of concrete. It proves that

oyster shells can be utilized as substitute and additive for cement content. Yet, it lacks to

explore the effects of oyster shells to other aspects of concrete bricks such as tensile

strength, water absorptiveness, etc.

In the investigation of Ruslan et al. (2022), oyster shells are used as replacement

for cement and are converted into both ash in temperatures 900˚C to 1100˚C and

converted into fine powder. The study on the oyster shell ash is separate from the oyster

shell fine powder. In the findings, the incorporation of oyster shell ash to cement

component of concrete decreased its compressive strength and flexural strength as the

ratio of oyster shell ash goes higher. However, in the incorporation of oyster shell fine

powder, the highest compressive strength of concrete is in 10% oyster shell fine powder

with about 35 N/mm2 (~5076.32 psi). In flexural strength, it was 5% oyster shell fine

powder that had the highest result with about 4 N/mm2 (~580.15 psi). Overall, the study

concluded that oyster shells have the potential to be a partial substitute for cement and

fine aggregates in concrete.

In a different concept, the study of Hussein and Oan (2022) used sugarcane

bagasse ash as partial replacement of cement in both mortar and concrete. The study

aims to investigate the use of sugarcane wastes in concrete, where the wastes turned
 16

into ash and are used as replacement for cement. The design of the study is in quasi-

experimental where the results focused on comparison of the produced bricks in terms

of its compressive strength and split tensile strength.

The sugarcane bagasse is burned at 600˚C until it is converted into ashes, then it

was heated again in an oven in 200˚C. The ashes were then ground to obtain finer

particles. The ratios of sugarcane bagasse ash to cement were 5%, 7.5%, and 10% of

the total weight of cement. The results showed that the best ratio of using sugarcane

bagasse ash as a partial replacement for cement was 5% with compressive strength of

32.54 MPa (4719.53 psi) and split tensile strength of 2.97 MPa (430.76 psi).

Moreover, the study of Thomas et al. (2021) explores the physical and chemical

properties of sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA), investigate the influence of various

processing methods on SCBA, and assess the performance of concrete incorporating

SCBA in terms of both fresh and hardened properties. Additionally, the study aimed to

examine the durability properties of SCBA-containing concrete, including permeability,

chloride penetration, electrical resistivity, thermal conductivity, acid, and sulfate attack.

The findings from this comprehensive review highlighted the unique properties of SCBA,

including its asymmetrical shape and colossal size. Various treatments, such as grinding

and calcination, were found to enhance its pozzolanic properties. The study revealed

improvements in concrete performance with SCBA, including increased strength due to

enhanced pozzolanic reactions, low heat of hydration, and reduced permeability

attributed to pore refinement in bagasse ash-blended concrete. Additionally, the review

underscored SCBA's potential as a sustainable supplementary cementitious material,

bridging the gap between academic research and practical application in the

construction industry.
 17

The synthesis of the studies by Bunyamin and Mukhlis (2020), Ruslan et al.,

(2022), Hussein and Oan (2022), and Thomas et al. (2021) collectively addresses the

utilization of unconventional materials in concrete brick production, highlighting the

potential for sustainable alternatives and the need for further exploration of their effects

on various concrete brick properties.

Collectively, these studies form the foundation of exploring agricultural

byproducts as substitute for the components of concrete brick, especially cement. The

research gap identified is the lack of exploration of oyster shells and other agricultural

byproduct as both substitutes of cement component, and the lack of testing for quality of

oyster shell cement bricks. The existing studies relates to the research questions of the

study as these serve as foundational references and are used in formulation of the

research hypothesis.
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Methodology

Research Design

This study outlines an experimental research design focused on the utilization of

oyster shells and sugarcane bagasse ash as alternative components for cement in brick

production. Experimental design is the process of carrying out research in an objective

and controlled fashion so that precision is maximized, and specific conclusions can be

drawn regarding a hypothesis statement. Generally, the purpose is to establish the effect

that a factor or independent variable has on a dependent variable. (Bell, 2009).

This study employs an experimental design to investigate the impact of

incorporating sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) with oyster shell cement on the

compressive strength, tensile strength, and absorptiveness of bricks. This design allows

controlled manipulation of variables, ensuring a systematic examination of the impact of

different oyster shell and sugarcane bagasse ash ratios on cement bricks, especially one

objective of the study is to determine whether that there is significance in comparison to

a control brick.
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Figure 2. Procedural Design

Data Gathering Procedure

Collection, Preparation, and Conversion of Oyster Shell Powder

The methods in this procedure are based on the study of Bunyamin and Mukhlis

(2020).

The process begins with the collection of oyster shells, followed by a deep

cleaning to get rid of organic material and drying. Subsequently, the shells are burned at

200°C for one hour in a steel barrel or drum to achieve brittleness. The burned oyster

shells are then crushed using a Los Angeles abrasive machine and ground into a fine

powder using a crusher. The final step involves sieving the oyster shells through a #200

sieve to obtain a fine powder.

Collection, Preparation, and Conversion of Sugarcane Bagasse Ash

The methods in this procedure are based on the study of Hussein and Oan

(2022).

The sugarcane bagasse (SCB) is collected from sugar mills and is then dried to

reduce moisture. Afterwards, it is subjected to controlled burning in a kiln at a high

temperature of 600°C until it transforms into ashes. The ash undergoes an additional

step of reheating in an oven, this time at 200°C. Following the heating processes, the

ash is finely ground using a ball mill. The final step involves sieving the ash through a

#50 300 μm sieve to ensure a consistent and fine texture.

Formulation of Treatments

From the 50 kg: 150 kg: 20 L cement-sand-water ratio of the DPWH Class A

Mixture that can produce 75 bricks, it’ll take 0.67 kg: 2 kg: 0.27 L ratio of cement-sand-
 20

water to create one brick. To convert the following units into grams and with a liquid

water to mass factor of 1 L = 1 kg, the resulting derived ratio is 670 g: 2000 g: 270 g of

cement-sand-water.

The total wet weight of 2.94 kg (2940 g) is within the range of the standard wet

weight of concrete bricks which is from 2.34 kg to 3.47 kg according to the study of

Hossain (2021).

With constant sand, and water, the ratios only cover the cement component of

brick which covers 670 g of total weight. These ratios replace the cement component of

exactly 30% of the weight and is formatted as 469 g cement (70%) - OS Powder (g) -

SCBA treatment.

TREATMENT 1 (R1) 469 g: 134 g: 67 g

TREATMENT 2 (R2) 469 g: 100.5 g: 100.5 g
TREATMENT 3 (R3) 469 g: 67 g: 134 g
Table 1. Treatments

Treatment 1 in percent is 70% cement, 10% OS Powder, to 20% SCBA.

Treatment 2 in percent is 70% cement, 15% OS Powder, to 15% SCBA. Treatment 3 in

percent is 70% cement, 20% OS Powder, to 10% SCBA.

Testing of Bricks

Compressive Strength Test. The evaluation of compressive strength involves

the use of a compression testing machine. For each treatment, three bricks are selected,

and the testing procedure is repeated three times to ensure comprehensive and reliable

results. In this study, compressive strength is measured in MPa (Megapascal).

Water Absorptiveness Test. The water absorption test involves weighing the

three treatments of the bricks for the basis of results and soaking them in room-

temperature water for 24 hours. The bricks are then weighed again to calculate the
 21

percentage increase in mass. This will determine the water absorption capacity of the

brick.

Data Analysis

Compressive Strength Test.

The study aligns the criteria for compressive strength test in the descriptions of

Hossain (2021) about the classes of bricks in terms of its compressive strength.

Poor 0.00-3.00 MPa

Slightly Poor 3.01-7.50 MPa
Moderate 7.51-10.00 MPa
Good 10.01-14.00 MPa
Excellent >14.01 MPa
Table 2. Compressive Strength Criteria (Hossain, 2021)

To compute for compression strength, the Pressure formula will be used. The

required data for the formula is the top surface area of the brick and the force it takes to

make the brick fail. The initial unit for compression strength is newton per square

millimeter (N/mm2). To evaluate according to compression strength criteria (Table 2), the

unit will be converted to Megapascals (MPa).

F where F isthe compression force ∈N

P= 2
A ¿ A is the surface area∈mm .

Absorptiveness Test.

The study aligns the criteria for water absorptiveness test in the descriptions of

Hossain (2021) about the classes of bricks in terms of its water absorptiveness.

Poor >25% of dry weight

Slightly Poor 22%-25% dry weight
Moderate 20%-22% of dry weight
Good 16%-19% of dry weight
Excellent <15% of dry weight
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Table 3. Water Absorptiveness Criteria (Hossain, 2021)

To compute for water absorptiveness, the data available should be the dry weight

of the brick and its weight after it had been soaked in water for 24 hours. The formula to

be used is the relative change formula.

where WA % isthe water absorbed percentage ,

WA %= |
SW −DW
DW
×100 % | SW is the soaked brick weight ,
¿ DW isthe dry brick weight .

Statistical Tools.

Mean. The mean is used to represent a group of values into one value. This is

calculated by summing all values included in the group and divide the sum by the total

number of values in the group. In this study, the groups are the values of each trial in

each of the treatments in every parameter.

Standard Deviation. The standard deviation is used to see the spread of values

and how far each value lies from the mean. A higher standard deviation shows wider

spread of values from the mean, while a lower standard deviation shows that the values

are near the mean.

One-Way ANOVA. One-Way ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) compares the means

of two or more independent groups if there are significant differences among each

group. It is to determine if the differences in results are caused by true group differences

rather than random chances.

 23

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664.

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 24

Chindaprasirt, P., Sujumnongtokul, P., & Posi, P. (2019). Durability and mechanical

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