Analysis of Burnt Bricks Produced Using Lateritic Soils

The increasing demand for affordable and sustainable construction materials in Nigeria has encouraged research into the use of locally available lateritic soils for burnt brick production. This study investigates the suitability of lateritic soils sourced from Ekpoma, Edo State, for burnt brick production by analyzing their geotechnical and engineering properties. The particle size distribution results revealed gravel contents ranging from 25.00% to 27.66%, sand from 43.45% to 50.00%, silt between 11.89% and 15.21%, and clay from 10.45% to 15.56%. Atterberg limits showed liquid limits between 34.5% and 41.5%, plastic limits from 19.8% to 23.0%, and plasticity indices ranging from 14.1% to 18.5%. Natural moisture contents ranged from 16.5% to 19.4%. Burnt bricks were produced and tested for compressive strength, thermal conductivity, and water absorption. The compressive strength values ranged from 5.01 MPa to 6.96 MPa, meeting and exceeding recommended standards for non-load-bearing walls and small structural applications. Thermal conductivity values ranged from 0.90 W/m·K to 1.01 W/m·K, indicating good thermal performance suitable for energy-efficient buildings. Water absorption rates ranged between 13.7% and 16.0%, suggesting moderate porosity and acceptable durability. The study concludes that lateritic soils from the study area are suitable for burnt brick production and recommends the promotion of large-scale production using optimized firing techniques and stabilizers. This will contribute to the provision of affordable housing and support sustainable construction practices in Nigeria.