Mechanical evaluation of soil and artisanal bricks for quality masonry product management, Limpopo South Africa

Abstract

The selection of raw materials to produce quality artisanal bricks is imperative for sustainable building in rural regions. Artisanal brick-making process often employs traditional kiln to fire brick because it is an affordable, and applicable technology in the rural region. However, there are noticeable cracks, increasing among buildings constructed with artisanal bricks from the rural region in South Africa. In response, this study aims to evaluate the soil and artisanal brick specimens to understand the suitability of the raw materials and quality of products in the study area. A total of twenty soil samples and twenty-seven artisanal burnt bricks were collected from three different artisanal brick-making sites designated as Site A, B, and C. In all samples, the geotechnical tests revealed a sandy loam soil type with a predominance of chlorite clay minerals and non-clay minerals. Furthermore, the sand-size particles depict a relatively higher proportion compared to clay-size particles. Besides, Atterberg’s limit test plotted above the A-line of the plasticity chart indicates an inorganic clay of low plasticity with a low to medium compressibility property. Based on the empirical workability and mechanical tests, most of the studied soils are suitable for optimum and acceptable extrusion bricks and suitable for an on-site single-story construction based on SANS 227:2007 standards.