Overview

Advances in Sustainable Masonry Bricks and Blocks: Design Optimization, Bio-based Material Incorporation, and Industrial Waste Valorization is a comprehensive reference resource that addresses the latest advancements and innovations in this field. This book explores novel sustainable masonry innovations in design optimization, bio-based materials, and industrial waste valorization. Part I investigates novel structural strategies—topological interlocking blocks modeled and fabricated in UHPC with an MCDM framework for reusability, a PRISMA-guided review of hygrothermal performance in insulated composite masonry, and a self-sensing brick system enabling continuous structural health monitoring. Part II delves into bio-reinforcements: Juncus-fiber–stabilized compressed earth blocks, fiber-reinforced soil units, glycoprotein stabilizers inspired by termite mounds, lime-hemp and sugarcane bagasse insulation for CEB walls, waste-glass–infused clay bricks, and rice-husk-ash geopolymer blocks. Part III valorizes community and industrial by-products—paper, plastics, bagasse ash, marble and stone dust, coal ash—into fired and unfired masonry, and applies geopolymers to stabilize earth materials. Across experimental research, systematic reviews, full-scale testing, and case studies, it advances durable, high-performance bricks and blocks with reduced environmental impact.

Full Product Details

Author:   Fernando Pacheco-Torgal (Principal Investigator, CTAC Research Centre, University of Minho, Guimaraes, Portugal) ,  Prinya Chindaprasirt (Director, Sustainable Infrastructure Research and Development Center (SIRDC), Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand)
Publisher:   Elsevier - Health Sciences Division
Imprint:   Woodhead Publishing
ISBN:  

9780443403897

ISBN 10:   0443403899
Pages:   740
Publication Date:   01 December 2025
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

Part 1 Design Optimization 1. Design and performance evaluation of osteomorphic-block 2. Optimization of wall thickness, rib thickness, hole rate and hole arrangement of bricks 3. Thermal performance of an innovative concrete masonry unit with embedded insulation of polyurethane foam 4. Reduction of the air cavity thickness and increase in the tortuosity of clay walls to improve the thermal performance of hollow clay bricks 5. Design optimization of filled ceramic blocks testing internal cavities with air, foam silicate and light fillings based on waste thermal insulation with silicate binder Part 2 Bio-based Materials Incorporation 6. Incorporation of açai seed in soil-cement bricks 7. Novel insulating construction blocks of crop residue and natural binders 8. Compressed earth blocks by using liquid and solid olive oil wastes 9. Potential of coir fibre-reinforced soil blocks 10. Bio-modified adobes with derivatives of cassava periderm 11. Valorization of octal by-product as supplementary admixtures in the production of bricks 12. Thermal performances of sugar cane bagasse compressed earth blocks 13. Hygrothermal and mechanical properties of adobe bricks with straw fibers 14. Properties of sandcrete blocks stabilized with cashew apple ash 15. Mechanical and thermal properties of clay bricks with banana fibre 16. Fly ash brick with the addition of coconut coir Part 3 Industrial Waste Valorization 17. Use of waste from the chemical industry for production of concrete hollow blocks 18. Synthesis of blocks containing mixed plastic waste 19. Masonry blocks with the incorporation of fly ash, bagasse ash, marble dust and stone dust 20. Zero-cement hollow blocks based on recycled concrete fines and steel slag 21. Environmental evaluation of blocks using fly ash and paint sludge 22. Fully-waste building blocks using alkali-activated construction and demolition waste residue 23. Mechanical properties of alkali activated blocks reusing blast furnace slag 24. Performance of blocks containing of blast furnace slag and municipal waste 25. Geopolymer blocks rice husk ash, blast furnace slag, and recycled sand

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Author Information

Fernando Pacheco Torgal is a Principal Investigator at C-TAC, University of Minho. He holds the title of Counsellor (Top 0.5%) from the Portuguese Engineers Association and has been consistently recognized as a Scopus Highly Cited Scientist in the global rankings by Stanford University. With over 300 publications to his name, he has carried out in-depth peer reviews of more than one thousand scientific papers and assessed nearly one hundred research grant proposals across 15 countries. He serves on the editorial boards of nine international journals and has been involved in editorial decisions for several hundred manuscripts. In addition, he has edited 33 international books, many of which are available in the libraries of prestigious institutions such as Harvard, MIT, and Stanford. Professor Prinya Chindaprasirt is the Director of the Sustainable Infrastructure Research and Development Center (SIRDC), a research unit in Khon Kaen University. He is now also the head of Advanced Functional Materials research cluster of Khon Kaen University. He was appointed a full professor in 2007. In 2009 he was the first person in civil engineering who was appointed the highest rank professor in Thailand. He has set up the Thai Geopolymer Network in 2005 to promote the research and collaboration among Thai researchers in this field.

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