CHAPTER 3

METHODOLOGY

In this chapter, the research design and methods that will be conducted for this research

such as collection of materials, testing of properties, and production of concrete bricks from

volcanic ash shall be discussed. Laboratory tests that samples gathered from this study will

undergo shall be addressed as well.

RESEARCH DESIGN

The researchers will use the experimental method as the research design to utilize the

volcanic ash that will be used in the production of concrete bricks.

Experimental method will allow the researchers to come up with a scientific and systematic

approach to solve the problem and it is thus, the most suitable method for this study.

Ash Sampling

Component proportion and particle shape of the ash deposited at a given locality depend

on eruptive processes, but also on transport-related sorting, and may vary as a function of height

of the eruption plume and direction and speed of the wind. To minimize the disturbing effect of

sorting on the variability of our samples, we will be collecting the ash from three different

barangays in two different municipalities within the seven-km radius and 14-km radius danger

zone. We will be selecting and analyzing only samples with particles in a given size range,

assuming that similar grain size of the samples would broadly correspond to a similar degree of

sorting.
Preparation of Volcanic Ash

Ashes collected will be composited to have a representative sample for the two different

places. Since the volcanic waste derives from the cleaning of urban public road sand spaces, it can

be contaminated by the presence of oils and other impurities that could influence the hydration

process of the cement. After the grain size reduction of the volcanic waste, a sieve analysis will be

performed, using material dried in oven at 100◦C to provide more surface area with which water

and cement can chemically bind.

Concrete Brick Production

The combined aggregate content in the concrete mix should not be more than 6 parts to 1

parts of sand to cement with a water to cement ratio 0.50. Three different types of replacement of

cement-volcanic ash concrete will be produced; 10% and 20% and 30% with the amount of cement

made constant.

Drying

Concrete shrinks slightly with loss of moisture. It is therefore essential that the blocks

should be allowed to dry out gradually in shade so that the initial drying shrinkage of the blocks is

completed before they are used in the construction work. Generally, a period of 28 days of drying

will bring the bricks to the desired degree of dryness to complete their initial shrinkage. After this

the blocks are ready for use in construction work.

Characterization of Volcanic Ash

 Physicochemical properties of volcanic ash such as moisture, bulk density, silica and NPK

content will be determined at Lipa Quality Control Center (LQCC) in Brgy. Sico, Lipa City

Batangas using 250 grams of volcanic ash.

Characterization of Concrete Brick

Mechanical property will be tested at E.B Testing Center Inc to determine the compressive

strength while surface morphology using SEM will be tested at Department of Science and

Technology.

STATISTICAL TREATMENT

In this research, the statistical analysis or procedure that will be used to interpret the

quantitative responses obtained from the experimental treatment. To be able to compare the

properties to the commercially available brick, t-test will be used. While to determine the effect of

different variations in cement to volcanic ash, ANOVA will be used.