BRICKS

The bricks are obtained by moulding clay in rectangular blocks of uniform size and then by
drying and burning these blocks.
Composition of good brick earth:
Alumina(Al203)
1.
2.
3.
4.

Chief constituent of clay

Good brick earth should contain 20 to 30 %
It imparts plasticity to the earth so that it can be moulded
If alumina is excess the raw brick shrinks and becomes too hard when burnt

Silica ( Si02)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

A good brick should contain about 50 60% of Silica.

The presence of this constituent prevents cracking, shrinking and warping of raw bricks
It imparts uniform shapes to the bricks
Durability of bricks depends on the proper proportion of silica in brick earth
Excess of silica destroys the cohesion between particles and bricks become brittle

Lime : (Ca0)
1.
2.
3.
4.

A good brick should have a small quantity of lime not exceeding 5 %.

It should be present in a very finely powdered state or else it will cause flaking
The lime prevents shrinkage
The excess of lime causes the brick to melt and hence its shape is lost.

Oxide of Iron :
1. A good brick should have a small quantity of oxide of Iron of about 5
6%.
2. It imparts red colour to the bricks
3. The excess of oxide of iron makes the bricks dark blue or blackish.
4. If the content is very less it makes the bricks yellow in colour

Magnesia : (Mg0)
1. A small quantity of magnesia in brick earth imparts yellow tint to the bricks and
decreases shrinkage.
2. Excess of magnesia leads to decay of bricks
Harmful ingredients in brick earth :

1. Alkalies(soda and potash)

2. Pebbles
3. Vegetation and organic matter

Steps in making a brick

1.
2.
3.
4.

Preparation of clay
Moulding either manual or machinerry
Drying
Burning(about 650 degree Celsius in kilns)

Tests for bricks

Absorption :

1. A dry brick is taken and weighed

2. Immersed in water for about 16 hours
3. It is weighed again and the difference in weight indicates the amount of water absorbed
by the brick
4. It should not exceed 20 % of weight of dry brick
Compressive strength:
1. Three numbers of whole bricks from sample collected should be taken .the dimensions
should be measured to the nearest 1mm
2. Immerse in water at room temperature for 24 hours .Remove the specimen and drain out any
surplus moisture at room temperature. Fill the frog and all voids in the bed faces flush with
cement mortar (1 cement,1 clean coarse sand of grade 3mm and down).
3. Store it under the damp jute bags for 24 hours filled by immersion in clean water for 3
days .Remove and wipe out any traces of moisture.
4. Place the specimen with flat face s horizontal and mortar filled face facing upwards between
plates of the testing machine.
5. Apply load axially at a uniform rate of 14
(
) per minute till failure occurs
and note maximum load at failure.
6. The load at failure is maximum load at which the specimen fails to produce any further
increase in the indicator reading on the testing machine.

The average of result shall be reported.

Hardness :

1.
2.
3.
4.

In this test a scratch is made on a brick surface with the help of a finger nail.
If no impression is left on the surface the brick is treated to be sufficiently hard
Hardness : In this test a scratch is made on a brick surface with the help of a finger nail.
If no impression is left on the surface the brick is treated to be sufficiently hard

Presence of soluble salts :

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

If present will cause efflorescence on the surface.

For finding it has to be immersed in water for 24 hours
It is taken out and dry in shade
Absence of grey or white deposits on its surface indicates absence of soluble salts
10 % presence Slight
50 % - moderate
50 % - heavy or serious

Shape and Size :

Sharp edges
Under observation length = 3680mm 3920mm
Width = 1740mm 1860mm
Height = 1740mm 1860mm

Soundness :
1. Two bricks are taken and are struck together
2. It should not break
3. A clear ringing sound should be produced
Structure :
1. A brick is broken and examined
2. It should be homogeneous
3. Compact and free from any defects such as holes , lumps etc.
Types of bricks
First Class bricks
This brick is the well burnt table moulded brick, which is red or copper colour. This first class
brickhas the uniform length and width and sharp well defined edges. This kind of bricks have
reasonable smooth surface without having any flaws, cracks and stone grits. This is used for the
construction of superior work.
First class bricks characteristics

They are sound well burnt bricks of uniform color.

They are hard enough, so that scratch with finger will not leave a mark.

They are uniform in size, rectangular in shape and well defined sharp edges.

They are not very smooth but they have clean surface.

If it stuck against the same type of brick, good metallic sound is obtained.

If it is fractured, the interior surface of the bricks shows the uniform textures.

They do not absorb water of more than 15% of the dry weight

They have of the minimum crushing strength of 10.5N/mm2

Efflorescence presence is very little. These are characteristics of first class bricks.
First class bricks Uses
This brick is used for sound work of permanent nature, construction of load bearing walls,
reinforced brick work, pavements, walkaways and flooring.
Second Class Bricks
This brick is the well burnt table moulded brick, which is red or copper colour. This second class
brickshas the uniform length and width and sharp well defined edges. This kind of bricks have
reasonable smooth surface with fine hair cracks and mild distortion.
Characteristics of Second Class Bricks

They are well burnt or slightly over burnt

If the struck against the same type of brick they use to emit ringing sound.

They are rectangular in shape and have well defined edges but not in equal size

They have clean surface but with certain small irregularities

They are free from cracks but have slight flaws and chips

Even if it soaked for 24hours it will absorb less than 22% of water.

They have the minimum crushing strength of 7 N/mm2.

Uses of Second Class Bricks
The second class bricks are used in masonry constructions, where ate faces are to be plastered,
is used for the construction of load bearing walls of single storey houses, used as brick ballast in
R.C.C work.
third class bricks are burned in clamps and they are ground moulded bricks, and also they may
be table moulded bricks which are slightly under burnt.
Characteristics of Second class Bricks

The bricks are slightly under burnt.

They are light colored and are relatively soft.

When they stuck with the same type of brick it emits dull sound.

They are not in uniform sizes and slightly distorted.

They do not have well defined sharp edges and corners.

They may show intensive sign of efflorescence

In the fractured surface of the bricks they dont have the proper uniform textures, it may
show pebbles.

These bricks will have the water absorptions of 20 % to 25 %.

They have the minimum compressive strength of 3.5 N/mm2.

Third class bricks uses
This third class bricks are used in the construction of unimportant structures; they are used in
the constructions of low height, where the loads are much less, such as construction of huts,
sheds, etc; used in the construction of boundary walls; used in the areas where it is not exposed
to rain.
Fourth class bricks:
These are overburnt bricks with irregular shape and dark colour
These bricks are used as aggregates for concrete in foundations,floors,roads etc.
Properties of bricks:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Light in weight and easily transportable

Dressing is not required
Not much Skilled level is required in brickwork
Wherever there is abundance of clay available in the area it can replace the stones

Qualities of a good brick

Table moulded and well burnt in kilns

Free from cracks with sharp and square edges

Colour should be uniform and bright

Uniform in shape and of standard size

When struck together a clear ringing sound

They should be sound proof

Low thermal conductivity

Bricks should not break into pieces when dropped flat on hard ground from a height
about 1 meter

Shape of Bricks
Bullnose brick :A brick moulded with a round angle is termed as Bullnose
Channel brick:These bricks are moulded to the shape of a gutter or a channel
Coping brick:These bricks are made to suit the thickness of walls on which coping is done
Cownose brick:Brick moulded with double bullnose on end is known as cownose
Curved sector brick:They are used in the construction of Circular brick masonry,pillars
Hollow bricks:

These are also known as cellular or cavity bricks

They are light in weight about 1/3rd the weight of ordinary brick

They are used in the construction of brick partitioning

Paving bricks

These are used in garden walks,streetpavements,stable floors

These bricks also render the floor less slippery

Perforated bricks

Used in construction of brick panels for lightweight structures

Perforations may be circular ,square or any other regular shape

The compressive strength should not be less than 7 N/mm2

Purpose made brick

In order to achieve certain purpose these bricks are made

Arch bricks are made of wedge shape to keep mortar joint

The splay bricks are made for jambs of doors and windows

Ornamental bricks are prepared for corbels,cornices.

Refractory brick /Fire clay brick

Fire clay is clay which is able to resist a very high temperature .Refracory bricks are made up of
fire clay which is able to resist a very high temperature of the order of 1700o C. It is the material
used for the insulation of heated chambers such as ovens, boilers, furnaces. Where ever
extremely high temperatures reaching beyond 1000C you must have special surfaces that are
resistant to heat. Otherwise due to the high heat generated, the surfaces exposed to the high
temperature will get oxidized and the oven will not be left to be used a second time.
Composition of refractory bricks:
Silica (Sio2)
It becomes soft at 1500C and finally fuses and becomes a glassy substance at about 1700C. it
melts about 1760C. due to this high softening and melting point, it is used as a principal material
in making the refractories or fire bricks.
Alumina (Al2O2)
Has still higher softening and fusion temperature. It melts at about 3720F it is therefore used
with silica in making fire bricks.
The exact composition ofrefractory brick varies, depending on the applications it is designed for.
Applications/uses
1. For lining of furnances to develop great heat for the melting of ores and metals in
manufacturing process.
2. For construction of boilers, combustion chambers and chimney flues.

Properties:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)

The Color is whitish,yellow,orlight brown.

The water absorption is 4-10%.
The minimum average compressive strength is 3.5 N/mm2
They have got the capacity of resisting a very high temperature of the order of 1700oC.

Questions:
(1 )Mention the various composition of a good brick earth and function.

(8)

(2).What are the harmful ingradients of the brickearth.

(2)

(3)Mention the uses of Bricks.

(4)What are the different tests conducted on bricks.

(5)
(10)

(5)What are the qualities of a good brick.

(6)

(6)Explain the different types of bricks used in construction

(6)

(7)Explain the classification of bricks.

(6)

(8)Mention the properties of refractory brick.

(5)

(9)What are the advantages of refractory bricks.

(2)

(10)What is the size and weight of the standard brick.

(2)

Aim

To determine the compressive strength of bricks

Apparatus

Compression testing machine ,the compression plate of which shall have ball seating in the form
of portion of a sphere center of which coincides with the centre of the plate.

Fig: Compression Testing Machine

Specimens

Three numbers of whole bricks from sample collected should be taken .the dimensions should be
measured to the nearest 1mm
Sampling

Remove unevenness observed the bed faces to provide two smooth parallel faces by grinding
.Immerse in water at room temperature for 24 hours .Remove the specimen and drain out any
surplus moisture at room temperature. Fill the frog and all voids in the bed faces flush with
cement mortar (1 cement,1 clean coarse sand of grade 3mm and down). Store it under the damp
jute bags for 24 hours filled by immersion in clean water for 3 days .Remove and wipe out any
traces of moisture.
Procedure

(I) Place the specimen with flat face s horizontal and mortar filled face facing upwards between
plates of the testing machine.
(II) Apply load axially at a uniform rate of 14
and note maximum load at failure.

) per minute till failure occurs

(III) The load at failure is maximum load at which the specimen fails to produce any further
increase in the indicator reading on the testing machine.
Calculation

The average of result shall be reported.

Range Calculation

Maximum compressive strength =

Contact area =
Maximum expected load =
The range to be selected is
Result
Average compressive strength of the given bricks =..
IS SPECICATIONS

Speciation of Common Clay Building Bricks

Dimensions: The standard size of clay bricks shall be as follows
Length (mm)

Width (mm)

Height
(mm)

190

90

90

190

90

40

Classification: The common burnt clay shall be classified on the basis of average compressive
strength as given in table.

Class Designation

Average compressive
Not less than Less than

350

35

40

300

30

35

250

25

30

200

20

25

175

17.5

20

150

15

17.5

125

12.5

15

100

10

12.5

75

7.5

10

50

7.5

35

3.5