Effect of Firing on Cracking and Warping of Clay Beams

Abstract

Reinforced baked clay beams may be considered to be a substitute of reinforced cement concrete beams in order to build low cost houses. The baking of these clay beams can pose problems such as cracking and warping. This paper presents the effect of different treatments applied to clay beams during baking to reduce cracking and warping. These clay beams were baked in pottery kiln in which the temperature could not be raised to the extent of fusing of clay beams placed at bottom of firing chamber. As expected, the beams were not baked properly and a number of them got cracked. Then these beams were baked in a commercial Hoffman’s kiln. The beams, in preheating stage, were moistened to full depth due to humidity and moisture of flue gases. As a result, the beams cracked and warped at the time of firing. In order to avoid the beams from being moistened by the moisture of the flue gases, different treatments were opted. Firstly, these beams were covered with plastic sheet, the cracks were reduced to some extent. Secondly, double layer of mud, with a layer of gunny bags between them, was applied. Consequently, a few cracks occurred in the beams. The treatments suggested in this paper can be used for baking of clay beams in Hoffman’s kiln at commercial level.