Physical, Mechanical and Environmental Assessment of Fly Ash Bricks Manufactured from Dhanbad, Jharkhand

Dhanbad Coalfield region is one of the major coal-producing areas of India, where large quantities of fly ash are generated from coal washeries and thermal power plants. Fly ash is an important raw material for brick manufacturing due to its availability, fine particle size, and pozzolanic properties. In the Dhanbad region, fly ash is easily available in bulk quantity, which reduces transportation cost and supports sustainable construction practices. The quality and density of fly ash produced in this region are comparatively better due to the high-grade coal used in washeries and thermal power plants. This makes it suitable for manufacturing high-quality bricks used in building and construction works. Utilization of fly ash in brick production not only improves compressive strength and durability but also reduces the use of natural clay, thereby minimizing environmental degradation.