Advances in Sustainable Masonry Bricks and Blocks: Design Optimization, Bio-based Materials Incorporation, and Industrial Waste Valorization

by Fernando Pacheco-Torgal (Editor), Prinya Chindaprasirt (Editor)

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780443403897
Publisher:	Elsevier Science
Publication date:	12/01/2025
Series:	Woodhead Publishing Series in Civil and Structural Engineering
Pages:	740
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

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.

Table of Contents

Design Optimization
1. Introduction to Advances in Sustainable Masonry Bricks and Blocks
F. Pacheco-Torgal
2. Modular and Mortarless Masonry: Design, Fabrication, and Reusability Assessment Framework for Topological Interlocking Assembly
Kevin Harsono, Tsung-Wei Cheng, Felicia Wagiri, Ye Yint Yint Aung and Shen-Guan Shih
3. Hygrothermal performance of composite masonry units with embedded insulation: a systematic review
Luca Caruso and Luca Nguyen Dinh
4. Self-Sensing Bricks for Strain Monitoring in New and Existing Masonry Structures
Antonella D'Alessandro, Filippo Ubertini and Andrea Meoni
Bio-based Material Incorporation
5. Development of Compressed Earth Blocks Using Juncus Fiber and Cement Stabilization for Sustainable Masonry Application
REDA Sadouri, Mustafa Benyoucef and Hocine Kebir
6. A comprehensive study on the choice of natural fibre reinforced compressed earth blocks as alternative masonry units
E.R Sujatha and Govindarajan Kannan
7. Bio-Stabilised Adobe Bricks: Enhancing Strength and Durability with Glycoproteins
Amal Mohammed Hassan Balila and Maria Vahdati
8. Improving the thermal and energy performance of compressed earth block walls: geo and bio-based solutions
Giada Giuffrida
9. Fired clay brick containing waste glass and agricultural waste
Nonthaphong Phonphuak, Siwat Lawanwadeekul and Prinya Chindaprasirt
10. Ash to Brick: Rice Husk Ash in Sustainable Masonry
Khuram Rashid and Khadija Mawra
Industrial Waste Valorization
11. Masonry Units from Community Waste: Utilization of Paper and Plastic Waste in Fired and Unfired Construction Materials
Siwat Lawanwadeekul, Nonthaphong Phonphuak and Prinya Chindaprasirt
12. Masonry blocks by the incorporation of fly ash, bagasse ash, marble dust and stone dust
E. Kavitha, S. Revathi, Geena M.G and C. Vinodhini
13. Sustainable brick and block from coal ash and industrial waste
Tanakorn Phoo-ngernkham, Sakonwan Hanjitsuwan and Prinya Chindaprasirt
14. Geopolymer stabilised earth materials: mechanical characteristics and durability
Quoc Bao Bui

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From the Publisher

This book presents the latest advancements on the development of sustainable masonry bricks and blocks for eco-efficient construction