Hundreds of studies have been written in the last several decades on the advantages of using stone powder as a raw material in the production of fired clay bricks. The durability and long-term behavior of the finished product, however, have received very little attention in the literature. Clay bricks are generally fired at high temperatures in developing countries, which reduces the mechanical performance of the bricks. This is especially evident in extreme environmental settings where weathering leads to significant damage. The evaluation of concrete waste (stone powder) used to make fired clay bricks is the main topic of this study. There are two sections: the first evaluates how adding stone powder to clay bricks improves their physical characteristics such absorption, efflorescence, density, and firing shrinkage. The impact of stone powder on the mechanical characteristics of specimens of burned clay bricks, such as compressive and flexural strengths, is covered in the second section. The percentages of stone powder in the clay bricks are 0 %, 5 %, 10 %, 15 %, and 20%. While the ratio of dry soil to water content remains is 0.3. In this work three fire phases are used untel to the maximum temperature is reached. The first one is 300 degrees C, the second phase is 600 degrees C, and 900 degrees C for the third phase. The water absorption of specimens decreased as the quantity of stone powder increased, and efflorescence also decreased, according to the results for the physical attributes. The density does, however, somewhat rise with the amount of stone powder. Additionally, when the amount of stone powder was increased, the experimental results indicated that firing shrinkage decreased. Mechanically considered, clay brick specimens with 20% more stone powder showed stronger compressive flexural capabilities.

West Sumatra is a province in Indonesia that is known for its high levels of seismic activity. Brick -walled buildings are particularly vulnerable during earthquakes. As the property sector continues to grow, the demand for red bricks in construction is rising. The brick industry in West Sumatra is thriving despite economic pressures. Red brick remains popular among the public, particularly as the main component of walls in simple house buildings. However, each manufacturer uses different raw materials, resulting in varying levels of quality, which still need to meet the Indonesian National Standard (SNI). This research aims to determine which brick composition has the best elemental properties in West Sumatra and investigates the effect of temperature on the chosen brick and its characteristics. The X-ray fluorescence Spectroscopy (XRF) test results indicate that the composition of Pariaman bricks is the closest to the required standards and so they were selected as test specimens to evaluate brick characteristics. The highest compressive strength results were obtained in bricks at a temperature of 800 oC and they also fulfilled the requirements of SNI 15-2094-2000, with a water absorption capacity under 20% of the water absorption rates. Based on the density testing, the increase in the firing temperatures of the specimens increases the bulk density. This is related to the lower porosity of brick at higher temperature firings. The modulus of elasticity was directly proportional to the compressive strength; the higher the temperature, the higher the brick stiffness.

The construction industry plays a significant role in shaping our environment and economy. However, it also substantially impacts the environment, including the depletion of natural resources, increased energy consumption, and waste generation. The green building trend has recently gained significant attention in recent years to mitigate the negative impacts of the building industry, focusing on sustainable materials and practices. One of the primary materials used in this field is clay brick, which leads to soil depletion over time. In this context, this study explores the potential of sawdust waste as a partial replacement for clay in brick production, aiming to reduce the depletion of natural resources while enhancing the properties and performance of the produced bricks. The study consists of two main phases: experimental and simulation. In the experimental phase, clay brick samples were produced by adding sawdust at different ratios (1%, 2%, 4%, 8%, and 10% of the raw weight), and various physical and mechanical properties of the produced samples were tested to ensure their suitability for construction use. Also, the thermal properties of the proposed brick were measured to investigate the effect of sawdust addition on brick thermal insulation. Consequently, thermal conductivity and specific heat were measured. In the simulation phase, DesignBuilder software (version 7.0.2) was used to investigate the impact of the proposed material on building envelope's performance and heat gain reduction. All experimental and simulation results were compared with the traditional clay brick measurements, which reveal a significant improvement in brick properties and performance with an increase in comprehensive strength of up to 192.3% and a reduction in energy consumption reaching 11.27%. The study results showed significant improvement in the properties and performance of the produced bricks, indicating the potential of using sawdust waste as a sustainable material for green buildings.