DEVELOPMENT OF AN AGGREGATE MIX RESPONSE PREDICTIVE MODEL FOR FIRE BRICKS MADE FROM CLAY DEPOSIT IN EDO STATE NIGERIA USING ANALYSIS OF VARIANCE

Experimental procedures used for determining appropriate mix ratios of aggregates for refractory bricks used for making heat furnace is laborious and time consuming. However, use of design of experiment which utilizes statistical data is timely and less cumbersome for such prediction. ANOVA was used in conjunction with experimental procedure to predict suitable mix ratio of clay and sand sourced from Ovia North East River in Edo state, Nigeria. Sample of the clay and sand were collected and prepared in alternating mix ratios of 10% to 90% with binders. The mixes were used to make refractory bricks and their physical properties investigated. Result obtained was used to validate the ANOVA prediction. Split-split plot experimental design and rejection of the null hypothesis indicated that mix ratios of clay/sand of 30/70%, 40/60%, 50/50%, respectively were good for refractory bricks with the optimum mix being 60% clay and 40% sand