Proceedings of the 3rd (2011) CUTSE International Conference Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia, 8-9 Nov, 2011 Performance of Post-Reinforced Baked Clay Panel of Beams Dr. Abdul Aziz Ansari Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Quaid-e-Awam University of Engineering Science & Technology, [QUEST], Nawabshah, (Sindh), Pakistan dransari@quest.edu.pk Dr. Mahmood Memon Professor & Dean QEC Quaid-e-Awam University of Engineering Science & Technology, [QUEST], Nawabshah, (Sindh), Pakistan dccquest@yahoo.com Abstract—This paper pertains to the use of clay as structural material. Although a lot of work has been done for the construction and performance of RCC beams, sheer need is being felt to evaluate the performance of baked clay panels of beams as relatively cheep alternative of RCC beams. Through systematic literature review it became apparent that no attempt has ever been made to cast, baked, post-reinforced structural clay panels which could replace reinforced cement concrete. Therefore, to start with beam panels have been molded, dried, baked, post- reinforced through grouting, properly cured and tested to check their suitability as pre-cast structural panels. Altogether fifty two beam panels with perforation were cast, compacted, baked and tested to study their behavior. Both point load and UDL was applied for testing of the beams. Proper bond between steel and baked clay was ensured before testing the beams. A large number of pieces of devices, equipments and machinery were required for this particular purpose but majority of items were not available in the market as Standard Equipment which could be purchased. Therefore, all such items were conceived, devised, designed and fabricated according to specific needs of various operations. When they were put at use they showed satisfactory performance. Results of experimental study conducted on pre- perforated post-reinforced baked clay panels of structural components performed in order to check their suitability for swift construction of low-cost houses on mass scale are presented here. The results are encouraging and hold promise for future as an alternative of RCC with relatively lower cost without sacrificing strength of the structures. Keywords- structural components; baked clay; grouting; low-cost housing; equipment & machinery; I. INTRODUCTION The modern tendency is towards the use of reinforced cement concrete for the construction of multistory buildings consisting of structural frames and slabs. The cost of construction and the time of completion are drastically reduced, if instead of casting the structural members’ insitu factory made pre-cast panels are transported and used for the erection of buildings. It is more beneficial if the buildings are to be constructed on mass scale and the variation of sizes is kept to a minimum. The plains of our country (Pakistan) where the soil is alluvial and there is dearth of fine as well as coarse aggregate, almost every single item i.e. cement, steel bars, fine & coarse aggregate are to be transported from very long distances. Being very heavy materials substantial amounts are to be paid as their cost of transportation Thus it is beyond the reach of a common man to opt for RCC construction. The universally available materials of construction in the plain areas are clay and pit sand. At present burnt clay bricks are being used for masonry construction and for lintels to span over small openings like those of doors and windows. If instead of bricks we can produce baked clay panels of beams, columns, slabs and footing etc. which are preperforated so that the reinforcement bars could later be placed and grouted with proper bond and if we can attain the strength properties resembling to those of cement concrete and if a reasonably good margin of reduction of prices could be achieved, then the dream of low-cost housing in its real sense could come true. Clay is a fine-grained, natural firm earthy material that is plastic when wet at appropriate water content, hardens when dry and gains strength like a permanent solid when heated intensively, consisting of hydrated silicates of aluminum [1]. The term clay is used in three different ways: to designate a diverse group of fine grained minerals, as a rock or sediment, and as a particle size. Despite the lack of a standard definition for clay among geologists, agronomists, engineers and soil scientists, the term clay is generally understood by all who use it [2]. Natural, non-toxic, healing, easily available, recyclable, low embodied energy, a pleasure to work with, soft & soothing, limitless creative possibilities are some of the properties of clay. Some people may describe it primitive, inferior and dirty. But it is author’s candid opinion that with the information provided here in this paper the above mentioned views will change. Depending on the contents of (334 -- 917)