The hardness of the brick depends on the soil that is used in its composition. Usually the hardness of clay bricks is noted as 3.50N/mm 2. The reading at which the brick is broken is noted as the crushing strength value of the brick. In this test, the brick is placed inside the testing machine and a compressive load is applied on the brick until the brick breaks. Hardness of brick is tested by the compressive testing machine or UTM machine. Unlike other properties, there is no laboratory test to determine accurately the hardness of the brick. This is very important property of brick because the longevity and durable life of brick is directly related with its hardness. Water Absorption Properties of Bricksīricks are generally hard because of baking in kiln and if you scratch the brick with nails it must not produce any impression. The difference of these weights are noted as percentage to give %age absorption of bricks. After 24 hours, these saturated bricks are weight to get saturate / wet weight. The sample of bricks are first weighed in dry state and is then immersed in water for 24 hours. It is very easy to carry out the water adsorption test of bricks. In this system the exterior wall is constructed in such a way that between the two parallel layers of bricks, a space or cavity is introduced that not only increase the insulation properties but also avoids the surface water to get percolated towards inside. In such heavy rainfall areas, it is therefore recommended, to use cavity walling system. So bricks do have water absorption properties that are sometimes in such a large quantity that the water could percolate towards the inside face of the wall, no matter how much thickness is of the wall. But as it is made with a clay, it has hundreds of voids in it that joins up to form capillaries for water to get absorbed. Compressive Strength of bricksĪlthough from appearance the brick looks firm and solid you can’t take brick as some flimsy material. The load determined as a result required for crushing is divided by surface area of the brick to get the required value of compressive strength in units of N/mm 2. It is tested by taking representative samples from lot of bricks and after filling the frog groove with mortar and its setting, it is rested on the pad of the crushing UTS machine and load is applied till crushing to determine the ultimate compressive strength of the brick. The compressive strength property of brick depends on the composition of clay and the degree of burning. Use of bricks in load bearing walls is only because of its high compressive strength. A field test about strength of the bricks is to fall the brick from a height of 1 meter and it must not break in to pieces. If the crushing strength of the bricks is less than 3.5 N/mm 2 it must not be used. Generally, bricks have high compressive strength in the range of 5.5 N / mm 2 to 140 N/mm 2. Mechanical brick properties are also referred to as the engineering properties of bricks.Įngineering Properties of Bricks Physical Properties of Bricks in construction

Its resilient and sustainable characteristics against forces of nature are not new or not unknown.Īmong brick properties, there are some basic ones which are related to the physical character and there are some additional properties that describe their mechanical properties, durability and thermal characteristics in construction. Generally, plenteous useful properties of bricks exist making it the widest used and most popular construction material.

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