Effects of the Addition of Sawdust Ash and Iron Ore Tailings on the Characteristics of Clay Soil

An evaluation of the effects of additives and firing temperatures on clay bricks characteristics was studied. The two (2) additives used were sawdust ash (SDA) and iron ore tailing wastes (IOTW), and the five (5) firing temperatures of 400o C to 1200o C at intervals of 200o C were applied. The fired bricks were tested for linear shrinkage, water absorption, density, and compressive strength. The results of the investigations showed that firing temperature improved the clay brick characteristics across all replacement levels. However, the SDA additions increased the linear shrinkage and the water absorption but decreased the density and compressive strength. On the other hand, the addition of IOTW to the clay-SDA mixture, reduced both the linear shrinkage and water absorption of the clay bricks, and increased the density and compressive strength. The statistical values and the regression models derived on the experimental data using Minitab 18 Software were significant.