NUMERICAL STUDY ON THE IMPACT OF TEMPERATURE VARIATION ON THE COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF SANDCRETE BLOCKS

Sandcrete blocks are extensively utilized in the construction of walls and partition systems in tropical regions due to their affordability and availability. However, with the increasing effects of climate change and exposure of structures to elevated temperatures, the thermal sensitivity of sandcrete blocks poses a structural concern. The need to understand how temperature variation affects the mechanical performance of sandcrete blocks has become crucial, particularly for regions experiencing extreme heat. This study aims to numerically investigate the impact of temperature variation on the compressive strength of hollow sandcrete blocks. The objective is to analyze the extent to which rising temperatures influence stress distribution and deformation within the material under a compressive load. Using ANSYS 2021 Workbench, a finite element model of a standard hollow sandcrete block was developed in SpaceClaim, incorporating realistic geometric dimensions. A coupled thermal-structural simulation was carried out where the block was subjected to varying steady-state thermal conditions ranging from 50°C to 100°C in increments of 10°C. Boundary conditions included fixed support at the base and a vertical compressive load of at the top face. Thermal conditions were applied to one face(front side) of the block. Results revealed that with each increase in temperature(50°C, 60°C, 70°C, 80°C, 90°C, and 100°C), there was a corresponding rise in total deformation(480%) and equivalent stress(286%) indicating a decreasing mechanical stability(79.1%) under high thermal conditions. The study concludes that thermal exposure considerably affects the compressive strength behavior of sandcrete blocks and should be factored into material selection and structural design practices, especially in hot climatic zones. This simulation-based approach demonstrates the effectiveness of finite element analysis in predicting material behavior under thermal loading and supports adaptive strategies in modern construction.