Eco-efficient Masonry Bricks and Blocks: Design, Properties and Durability

Masonry walls constitute the interface between the building’s interior and the outdoor environment. Masonry walls are traditionally composed of fired-clay bricks (solid or perforated) or blocks (concrete or earth-based), but in the past (and even in the present) they were often associated as needing an extra special thermal and acoustical insulation layer. However, over more recent years investigations on thermal and acoustical features has led to the development of new improved bricks and blocks that no longer need these insulation layers. Traditional masonry units (fired-clay bricks, concrete or earth-based blocks) that don’t offer improved performance in terms of thermal and acoustical insulation are a symbol of a low-technology past, that are far removed from the demands of sustainable construction.

This book provides an up-to-date state-of-the-art review on the eco-efficiency of masonry units, particular emphasis is placed on the design, properties, performance, durability and LCA of these materials. Since masonry units are also an excellent way to reuse bulk industrial waste the book will be important in the context of the Revised Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC which states that the minimum reuse and recycling targets for construction and demolition waste (CDW) should be at least 70% by 2020. On the 9th of March 2011 the European Union approved the Regulation (EU) 305/2011, known as the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) and it will be enforced after the 1st of July 2013. The future commercialization of construction materials in Europe makes their environmental assessment mandatory meaning that more information related to the environmental performance of building materials is much needed.

1. Introductionto eco-efficient masonry bricks and blocks

PART I – DESIGN, PROPERTIES AND THERMAL PERFORMANCE OF LARGE AND HIGHLY PERFORATED FIRED-CLAY MASONRY BRICKS 2. The design and mechanical performance of large and highly perforated fired masonry bricks 3. Influence of large and highly perforated fired clay bricks in the improvement of the equivalent thermal transmittance of single-leaf masonry walls 4. Traditional fired clay bricks versus large and highly perforated fired clay bricks masonry: Influence on buildings thermal performance

PART II – THE DESIGN, PROPERTIES AND DURABILITY OF FIRED-CLAY MASONRY BRICKS CONTAINING INDUSTRIAL WASTES 5. The properties and durability of clay-fly ash-based fired masonry bricks 6. Types of waste, properties and durability of pore forming waste-based fired masonry bricks 7. Types of waste, properties and durability of toxic waste-based fired masonry bricks

PART III – THE DESIGN, PROPERTIES AND DURABILITY OF PORTLAND CEMENT CONCRETE MASONRY BLOCKS 8. The properties and durability of high pozzolanic industrial by-produts content concrete masonry blocks 9. The properties and durability of autoclaved aerated concrete masonry blocks 10. The design, properties and performance of concrete masonry blocks with PCMs 11. The design, properties and performance of shape optimized masonry blocks

PART IV – THE DESIGN, PROPERTIES AND DURABILITY OF GEOPOLYMERIC MASONRY BLOCKS 12. The properties and durability of fly-ash based geopolymeric masonry blocks 13. The properties and durability of mine tailings-based geopolymeric masonry blocks 14. The properties and performance of red-mud based geopolymeric masonry blocks 15. Design and properties of fly ash, ground granulated blast furnace slag, silica fume and metakaolin geopolymeric based masonry blocks.

PART V – THE PROPERTIES AND DURABILITY OF EARTH-BASED MASONRY BLOCKS 16. The properties and durability of adobe earth-based masonry blocks 17. The properties of compressed earth-based masonry blocks 18. The durability of compressed earth-based masonry blocks

PART VI – TOPOLOGY OPTIMIZATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE 19. Topology optimization for the development of eco-efficient masonry units 20. Environmental performance and energy assessment of fired clay brick masonry 21. Assessment of the energy and carbon embodied in straw and clay masonry blocks 22. Earth-block versus sandcrete block houses: Embodied energy and CO2 analysis