Abstract- The fast growth of construction work in India and all over the world has increased the demand for building materials like bricks, cement, sand, and aggregates. Due to this, natural resources such as soil, sand, and stone are being used excessively. Traditional clay bricks are made by using top fertile soil and burning them in kilns, which causes air pollution and increases carbon emissions. At the same time, large amounts of industrial waste and agricultural waste are generated every year, and their proper disposal has become a serious issue. Therefore, it is very important to find new construction materials that are eco-friendly, cost-effective, and sustainable. In this study, an attempt has been made to use waste materials like fly ash, coconut shell, and coconut fiber for making eco-friendly bricks. Fly ash is a waste material produced from thermal power plants. It has good binding properties and can be used as a replacement for cement or soil in brick making. Using fly ash helps in reducing pollution and also makes use of waste material effectively. Coconut shell and coconut fiber are agricultural wastes that are easily available in India. Coconut shell is hard and strong, so it can be used as a lightweight aggregate in bricks. It helps in reducing the weight of bricks and improves thermal insulation, which means it can keep buildings cooler. Coconut fiber is a natural fiber taken from coconut husk. It has good tensile strength and flexibility. It acts like reinforcement in bricks and helps in reducing cracks and improving durability. In this study, coconut fiber is added in different percentages like 5%, 10%, and 15% of the total volume of bricks to check its effect on strength and performance. The bricks are prepared by mixing fly ash, coconut shell, coconut fiber, sand, and cement properly. After casting, the bricks are cured for a specific period. The prepared bricks are tested in the laboratory for different properties. These tests include compressive strength, water absorption, efflorescence, and hardness. The results show that adding coconut fiber improves crack resistance and flexibility of bricks. Coconut shell reduces the weight of bricks and improves insulation properties.
Hadge et al. (Mon,) studied this question.