Characteristics and Uses of Good Bricks

 

Characteristics of Good Bricks

It is always desirable to use the best quality brick in constructions. Therefore, the Characteristics of a good brick must be investigated. Generally good bricks possesses following properties-

Bricks should be uniform in color, size and shape. Standard size of brick should be maintained.

ü    They should be sound and compact.

ü    They should be free from cracks and other flaws such as air bubbles, stone nodules etc. with sharp and square edges.

ü    Bricks should not absorb more than 1⁄5 of their own weight of water when immersed in water for 24 hours (15% to 20% of dry weight).

ü    The compressive strength of bricks should be in range of 2000 to 5000 psi (15 to 35 MPa).

ü    Salt attack hampers the durability of brick. The presence of excess soluble salts in brick also causes efflorescence. The percentage of soluble salts (sulphates of calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium) should not exceed 2.5% in brunt bricks.

ü    Brick should not change in volume when wetted.

ü    Bricks should neither overburnt nor under-brunt.

ü    Generally, the weight per brick should be 6 lbs. and the unit weight should be less than 125 lbs. per cubic ft.

ü    The thermal conductivity of bricks should be low as it is desirable that the building built with them should be cool in summer and warm in winter.

ü    Bricks should be sound proof.

ü    Bricks should be non-inflammable and incombustible.

ü    Bricks should be free from lime pitting.

Uses of Brick

Brick plays very important role in the field of civil engineering construction. Bricks are used as an alternative of stones in construction purpose. Here some main uses of construction brick are given below.

ü    Construction of walls of any size

ü    Construction of floors

ü    Construction of arches and cornices

ü    Construction of brick retaining wall

ü    Making Khoa (Broken bricks of required size) to use as an aggregate in concrete

ü    Manufacture of surki (powdered bricks) to be used in lime plaster and lime concrete

Lime Pitting of Bricks

If calcium carbonate is present in brick raw material, quicklime will be produced in the kiln. These quicklime, with the help of water, will form hydrated lime and the process expands. Sufficient.

List of Brick Tests

ü    Absorption test

ü    Compressive Strength Test (Crushing Strength Test)

ü    Efflorescence Test (Presence of Soluble Salts)

ü    Hardness Test

ü    Impact Test

ü    Dimension Tolerance Test

ü    Shape and Size

ü    Color Test

ü    Soundness Test

ü    Structure Test

Composition of Bricks - Function of Ingredients

Bricks are rectangular units of construction material. Bricks are used in masonry construction, walls, and pavements. It is used as a substitute of stone, where the stone is not readily available.

Bricks are mainly used in the construction of wall, floor, cornices, and arches. Brick chips are also used as a substitute for stone chips in the concrete mix where a stone is not available.

Brick density is an important parameter. Density indicates the weight of the brickwork. Cores, Cells, and Frogs decrease the density and in turn, decrease the material cost.

While fire clay brick.

Thermal conductivity of a material is its ability to conduct heat.

Good Bricks should have low thermal conductivity so that houses keep cool in summer and warm in winter. Special Insulating brick.

Bricks are a regular size rectangular unit. Bricks are made of clay. They are usually used for most of the building works. Bricks are most generally used as a substitute for stone when the stone.

 

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