CE 1213: Building & Construction Materials

Bricks
DEFINITION OF BRICK

A brick is an artificial kind of stone made of clay whose chief characteristics are a plasticity
when wet and stone like hardness after being heated to high temperature.

FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE QUALITY OF BRICKS

The following are the factors on which the quality of bricks depends:
 Chemical properties of the clay used.
 Preparation of the clay.
 Process of drying.
 Different degrees of burning.

CONSTITUENTS OF BRICK CLAY

Good brick clay should be such a mixture of pure clay and sand that when prepared with water,
it can easily be moulded and dried without cracking or wrapping. Brick earth is derived by the
disintegration of igneous rocks. Potash feldspars, orthoclase or microcline are mainly
responsible for yielding clay minerals in the earth. This mineral decomposes to yield kaolinite a
silicate of alumina which on hydration gives a clay deposit A1203.2H20 known as kaolin.

Chemical composition
Chemical analysis of good brick clay should give the following chemical composition

Constituents Composition
Silica 55 %
Alumina 30%
Iron Oxide 8%
Magnesia 5%
Lime 1%
Organic matters 1%

FUNCTION OF CONSTITUENTS OF BRICK CLAY

Functions of various constituents/ingredients of brick earth are described below:

Alumina or clay
 It is the principal constituent of every kind of brick earth.
 It provides plasticity to the earth and makes the brick hard.
 If not mixed with sand shrinkage and warping results.

Silica or sand
 It exists in brick earth either in chemical combination with alumina as silicate of
alumina or mechanically mixed with clay as sand.
 If silica in suitable proportion is added to clay it imparts hardness to the brick and
checks it shrinkage. Cracking and warping on drying. But if added in greater
proportions make the brick brittle.
 Addition of silica also increases hardness, durability and resistance to heat.

Lime
 It helps silica to melt at lower temperature and binds the particles of the bricks
together
 It also reduces shrinkage of bricks.
 It should be present in finely divided state otherwise the lumps on burning will change
to quick lime and disintegrate the brick on absorbing moisture.

Iron oxide
 A small quantity of iron oxide present in brick earth, acts as a flux, helps grains of
sand to melt and binds the particles of clay together.
 It imparts pleasing red colour to the brick. Its excess percentage (8 to 11) makes the
brick dark blue.
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Magnesia
 Small quantities of magnesia in brick earth make the bricks of yellowish colour and
reduced shrinkage. But excess of magnesia leads to the decay of bricks.

Manganese
 Manganese in small proportions along with iron makes the brick darker (or even black).

HARMFUL INGREDIENTS IN BRICK CLAY

Lime stone and kankar nodules

 The presence of limestone and kankar nodules in the brick earth is harmful and crops
up serious troubles.
 On heating limestone is converted into lime which on contact with water swells and
causes the brick to split and crumble to pieces.
 But however, a certain quantity of limestone desirable in brick earth as it binds the
particles of brick together and reduces shrinkage on drying.
 It is essential that limestone must be present in a finely divided state and not in lumps.
 Excess lime fuses brick and the shape is lost due to the effect of excess lime.

Alkalies
 If alkalies are present in the brick earth, they lower the fusion point of clays and cause
the brick to fuse, twist and warp during burning.
 Alkaline salts if present in finished bricks absorb moisture from the atmosphere and
create damp conditions which are detrimental to health.
 Further when the moisture dries up a greyish white deposit is left behind which spoils
the appearance of the structure; the effect being known as efflorescence.

Pebbles of stone and gravel

 They do not exercise any harmful effect chemically, but do not permit the clay to be
thoroughly mixed and thus impair the uniformity of a brick.

Iron pyrites
 Iron pyrites, if present in the earth decompose and oxidise in the brick and cause the
brick split.

Vegetation and organic matter

 The presence of vegetation and organic matter in brick assists in burning.
 But if such matter not completely burnt, the bricks become porous (This is due to the
fact that the gases will evolved during the burning of the carbonaceous matter and it will
result in the formation of small pores).

REQUIREMENTS OF GOOD BRICK EARTH

A good brick earth should fulfill the following requirements:

 It must have proper proportions of sand, silt and clay.
 It must be homogeneous.
 It should have sufficient plasticity (so that the bricks can be properly and conveniently
moulded with sharp and well defined edges).
 It must be free from lumps of lime or nodules of kankar.
 It must be free from earth containing alkaline salts, kankar.
 It must be free from pebbles, grits and lumps of earth.
 It must not contain vegetable and organic matter.
 It should not be mixed with salty water.

Frog or Impression
 It is an indentation mark left on the face of a brick during moulding process. It serves
the following two purposes
1. It indicates the name of the person or the firm who manufacture the bricks.
2. It provides a key for mortar for developing a structural grip when used.
 Frog in the brick is formed by providing a projection or a fillet on the corresponding face
of mould (usually of the lower pallet board).
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Figure: Frog mark

QUALITIES OF GOOD BRICKS

The good bricks which are to be used for the construction of important engineering structures
should possess the following qualities/characteristics.

 Size and shape: A good brick should be uniform in size (standard) and should have
rectangular plane surfaces with parallel sides and sharp straight right-angled edges.
Its surfaces should not be too smooth so that the mortar will not stick to it. According
" " "
1 1 3
to PWD specification, size of the brick should be 9 x4 x 2 . When brick are
4 2 4
put in any construction with mortar the size becomes 10”x5”x3”. The standard size is
" " "
1 1 3
most economical in engineering constructions in our country is 9 x4 x2 . A
2 2 4
standard brick weighs nearly 30 N.
 Colour: The bricks should be table-moulded, well burnt in kilns, copper coloured, free
from cracks and with sharp and square edges. The colour should be uniform and
bright.
 Structure: A good brick should show fine, compact and uniform structure in broken
form
 Soundness: A good brick should give a clear metallic ringing sound when struck with
another brick.
 Hardness: A good brick should be so hard that finger nails should not be able to
mark any impression on its surface when scratched.
 Porosity: A good brick should not absorb more than 1/5 of water of their own weight
(15 to 20% of its dry weight of water) when kept immersed for 24 hours.
 Strength: The compressive strength of bricks should be in the range of 5000psi to
8000psi. A good brick should have minimum crushing strength of 10.5 N/mm 2. It
should not break when dropped flat on hard ground from a height of about 1m.
 Resistance to fire: A good brick should have adequate resistance to fire. Ordinary
brick can resist temperature up to 1200 C . Bricks to be used for lining of furnaces,
etc., should be of special quality (known as fire bricks).
 Efflorescence: A good brick should not contain much alkaline salts, which may cause
efflorescence on its surface and decay the brick.
 Durability: A good brick should be able to resist the effects of weathering agencies
like temperature variations, rain, frost action, etc.
 Weight: The weight should be generally 6Ibs per brick and the weight per Cubic ft
should not be less than 125Ibs.
 The Brick should not be over burnt or under burnt.
 They should be non-inflammable and incombustible.
 Brick should not change its volume when wet.
 They should have low thermal conductivity.

CLASSIFICATION OF BRICKS

The bricks are classified in the following two types:

 Sun dried or katcha bricks
 Burnt or pacca bricks.

Sun dried or katcha bricks

 These bricks are dried with the help of heat received from the Sun after the process
of moulding. These bricks are not burnt in camp or kiln.
 These bricks can only be used in the construction of temporary and cheap
structures.
 Such bricks should not be used at places exposed to heavy rains.
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Burnt or pacca bricks

 The bricks which are burnt in a clamp or kiln after moulding and drying are called
burr or pacca bricks.
 These bricks are hard, strong and durable and are generally used in permanent
works. These bricks are further classified into the following four types:
1. First class bricks
2. Second class bricks
3. Third class bricks
4. Over burnt or jhama bricks

First Class Bricks

Characteristics
The following are the characteristics of a first class brick:
 A first class brick is well burnt and regular in shape.
 Edges are sharp and well defined.
 It is sufficiently hard and sound.
 Its surface is smooth, clean and free from cracks.
 A fractured surface shows a uniform compact structure (free from lumps or grits and
holes).
 Water absorption shall not be more than one sixth of its weight of water when kept
immersed for sixteen hours.
 When two bricks are struck against each other, a metallic ringing sound is produced.
 When soaked in water for 24 hours and dried in shade does not show efflorescence.
 It should not break when dropped from a height of 1 to 2 metres.
 It has specific gravity of 1.8.
 It is so hard that no mark can be produced on it with finger nails.
 It has a minimum crushing strength of 10.5 N/mm2.

Uses:
 In R. B. work.
 For flooring and walling purposes.
 As ballast for R.C. work.
 Shaped bricks are used in carvings, arches and copings.

Second Class Bricks

Characteristics
 A second class brick is well-burnt but irregular in shape and size.
 It has a rough surface.
 Its edges are neither straight nor well defined.
 It is not free from lumps and cracks.
 It does not have a uniform colour.
 It has fine, compact and uniform texture.
 It shall produce a ringing sound when struck with one another.
 It shall have a minimum crushing strength of 7 N/mm2.

Uses
Such types of bricks are used in unimportant situation and for internal walls (where the bricks
are generally hidden from view.

Third Class Bricks

The bricks which are under burnt and are not uniform in shape and size are called third class.

Characteristics
 A third class brick has a light yellowish colour.
 It is not well-burnt.
 It is soft.
 When two bricks are struck a dul1 sound is emitted.
 It is associated with flaws and cracks.
 Its edges are irregular and surface quite rough.

Uses:
Third class bricks are used in inferior and temporary building.
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Overburnt or Jhama Bricks

These are overburnt bricks with irregular shape and dark colour.

Characteristics
 They are overburnt, vitrified and distorted bricks.
 They are irregular in shape and size and are available in the form of lumps.
(i) They are dark in lumps.
(ii) They are hard and strong.
(iii) They produce metallic ringing sound.
Uses
These bricks are used as aggregates for making concrete to be used in foundations, floors,
etc., and as road metal for soling coat.

First class Bats

These are broken bricks of the same quality of first class bricks.

Second Class Bats

These are broken bricks of the same quality of Second class bricks.

Picked Jhama Bricks

This bricks are uniformly vitrified throughout, but must be of good shape, heavy and of selected
quality. They must not be spongy.

Jhama bats
These are the broken bricks of the Picked Jhama and Jhama bricks.

Special Bricks

Sometimes it is necessary to give different shape of bricks to meet the different situations.
These bricks differ from the commonly used bricks with respects to their shape, specifications
and special purpose for which they are made. The special bricks may be of the following types:

 Perforated bricks
These contain hollows through their entire thickness. They are lighter than standard
bricks. These are used for partition wall, load bearing walls of low buildings and panel
walls of multistoried buildings.

 Hollow bricks
These are also called cavity or cellular bricks.The wall thickness of such bricks will bwe 20 to
25mm. They are light and are prepared from a special variety of homogeneous clay. They
reduce transmission of heat, sound and dampness. The are also used as partition walls.
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Round Hollow White House

Size : 8 " X 6 " Size : 8 " X 6 "
Pieces per 100 Sq. Ft. per 100 Running Ft. 300
300 Nos. Nos.
Weight Kg./Pc. : 1.200 Weight Kg./Pc. : 1.200

D Hollow Cavity Hollow

Size : 6 " X 6 " Size : 8 " X 6 "
Pieces per 100 Sq. Ft. Pieces per 100 Sq. Ft.
400 Nos. 300 Nos.
Weight Kg./Pc. : 0.900 Weight Kg./Pc. : 1.600

Tiles Hollow Bricks

Size : 8 " X 8 " Size : 9 " X 4.5 " X 3"
Pieces per 100 Sq. Ft. Pieces per 100 Sq. Ft. 120 Nos.
225 Nos.
Weight Kg./Pc. : 2.300
Weight Kg./Pc. : 1.100

 Plinth bricks

A: 215 A: 215
B: 102 B: 102
C: 65 C: 65
D: 9 D: 23
E: 46 E: 60

PL.3.1
PL.3.2
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 Checkered bricks
These bricks are used in Brick masonary.

 Stable bricks( with grooved panel)

 CE 1213: Building & Construction Materials

 Jamb bricks
Bricks chamfered and rounded to desired shape at corner.

 Klinker(paving bricks)
These bricks are used as internal flooring.

 Sewer bricks
These bricks are manufactured from surface clay, fire clay or shale or a combination
of these materials.
The bricks are used for lining of walls, roofs and floors of ordinary sewers.

 Sand lime bricks

The bricks are also called calcium silicates bricks. These bricks are used as masonry
construction.

TESTS FOR BRICKS

Water absorption test:

 A brick of standard size is weighted accurately. It is then immersed in water for 16

hours and then taken out and its weight is accurately determined.
 Let the dry weight of brick is W d and its weight after immersion Ws. Then the
difference between the two weights (Ws-Wd) indicates the quantity of water
absorbed.
 The water absorbed is express as a percentage of the weight of the brick.
(Ws  Wd )
Absorption percentage=  100% brick. It should not in any case, exceed 20% of
Wd
weight of dry brick.
Compressive Strength Test
 The specimen brick is immersed in water for 24 hours.
 The frog of the brick is filled flush with 1: 3 mortars and the brick is stored under damp jute
bags for 24 hours followed by immersion in clean water for three days.
 The specimen is then placed between the plates of the compression testing machine.
 Load is applied axially at a uniform rate (of 14 N/mm 2) and maximum load at which the
specimen fails is noted for determination of compressive strength of brick given by
max imum load at failure
Compressive strength=
loaded area of brick
The crushing or compressive strength of common building bricks should not be less than 3.5
N/mm2. Bricks of high quality do not have strength less than 14 N/mm2.
If no testing machine is available, the strength can be roughly judged from the force required to
break the brick with a hammer. The brick should not break when fallen on its end on their
ground from a height of 2 meters.

The strength of the bricks is affected by the following factors:

 The composition of brick earth used.
 The preparation of clay and blending of ingredients/constituents.
 Type of moulding adopted.
 Care exercised in drying and stacking of raw/green bricks.
 Type of kiln used (including type of fuel and its feeding).
 Burning and cooling process.
 Care exercised in unloading the bricks.

Efflorescence Test
 The soluble salts, if present in the bricks, cause efflorescence on the surface of
bricks.
 In order to find out the presence of soluble salt in a brick, it is immersed in water for
24 hours. It is then taken out and allowed to dry in shade. The absence of grey or
white deposits on its surface indicates absence of soluble salts.
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 If the white deposits cover about 10% surface, the efflorescence is said to be slight
and it is considered as moderate when the white deposits cover about 50% of
surface. When white (or grey) deposits cover more than 50% of surface the
efflorescence becomes heavy and it is considered as serious.

Structure Test
A specimen brick is broken and its structure is examined. It should be homogeneous,
compact and free from any defects, e.g., lumps, holes, etc.

Shape and Size Test

 In this test a specimen brick should be closely inspected. It should be of standard

size and its shape should be truly rectangular with sharp edges.
 Twenty bricks of standard size (190 mm x 90 mm x 90 mm) are randomly selected
and stacked length-wise, along the width and along the height. For good quality
bricks, the results should be within the following permissible limits: Length: 3680 mm
to 3920 mm; Width: 1740 mm to 1860 mm; Height: 1740 mm to 1860 mm.

Soundness Test
This test is performed by striking two specimen bricks with each other; the bricks should not
break and a clear ringing sound should be produced.

Hardness Test
This test is conducted by making a scratch on 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.

Field Test of Bricks

The following are the tests that are generally performed in the field to determine the quality
of good bricks:
 Take a brick and try to make mark on the surface by nail. If you can make it, it is not
a good brick. If no, it is very hard and compact.
 Take a brick and strike it with a hammer. If it gives clear ringing or metallic sound, it
is a good brick. If not, a bad one.
 Take two bricks and form a tee (T) and drop from a height of 6 feet on a more or less
solid surface. If they break, they are not good bricks. If they remain unbroken, they
are good bricks.