Bond strength of alkali-activated flyash based masonry system for sustainable construction

Bond strength is a crucial factor that impacts the performance, structural reliability and stability of masonry constructions. This paper aims to examine the efficacy of various masonry unit and mortar combinations and their bond strength thereby, evaluating their adhesion performance. It experimentally analyzes two masonry unit types paired with two mortar combinations. One is the traditional clay brick and the other is an alkali activated flyash based brick. Alkali activated flyash bricks and mortars use flyash as a sole binder, activated with popular alkalis, thereby reducing carbon footprints compared to cement manufacturing. Two types of mortar used are conventional cement mortar and alkali activated flyash mortar. Bonded prisms were tested to determine the compressive, tensile, shear, and flexural bond strengths. The results revealed significant variations in bond strength across different combinations of masonry units and mortar. Notably, it was observed that alkali-activated bricks bonded with alkali-activated mortar exhibited higher bond strength, compared to conventional cement mortar. These findings provide valuable insights in assessing the compatibility between masonry units and mortar, highlighting the potential of this technology for sustainable construction practices.