Studies into structural and thermal properties of building envelope materials

The structural and thermal properties of masonry units influence the behaviour of masonry. In load bearing masonry, wall elements play a major role in supporting the structure through load transfer mechanism from roof to foundation. Also, wall elements regulate the thermal interaction between the indoor and outdoor environment. A variety of masonry units are available as an alternative to burnt clay brick masonry. Fly ash-Lime-Gypsum (FaL-G) brick is one such alternative, which is a low carbon and energy efficient brick made of industrial waste fly-ash. The current paper investigates the characteristic properties of FaL-G bricks and compares them with the locally available conventional table moulded brick (TMB). The characteristic results reveal that the FaL-G brick performs better as a masonry unit and also for building envelopes in tropical conditions. Based on investigations regarding structural and thermal performance, suitable guidelines can be issued to integrate this material in the building envelope.