CEN 201: Engineering Materials

BRICKS: USES & properties

Md. Mahbub-ul-Alam
Assoc. Prof, CEN, SUB

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BRICK
Introduction
The term brick refers to small units of building material,
often made from fired clay
Because each unit is small—usually four inches wide and
twice as long, brick is an ideal material for structures in
confined spaces, as well as for curved designs.

Md. Mahbub-ul-Alam, Assoc. Prof, CEN, SUB

Ingredients (with average proportion weight
basis)

▪ Silica (SiO2) : 55%

▪ Alumina (Al2O3) : 30%
▪ Iron Oxide (Fe2O3): 8%
▪ Magnesia (MgO) : 5%
▪ Lime : 1%
▪ Organic matter : 1%
• Silica is sand
• Alumina, Iron oxide &
Magnesia constitute clay
Md. Mahbub-ul-Alam, Assoc. Prof, CEN, SUB
 Functions of Chief Ingredients

Alumina:
▪Main constituent of clay
▪Provides plasticity to earth so that it can be molded
▪If contains excess amount, brick shrink, crack and warp on drying and
burning.

Silica:
▪Good bricks contain 50-60%
▪Prevents cracking, shrinking and warping of raw bricks.
▪Excess amount in bricks destroy cohesion between particles and makes
bricks brittle and weak.

Durability of bricks depends largely on

proper proportioning of alumina and silica.

Md. Mahbub-ul-Alam, Assoc. Prof, CEN, SUB

 Functions of Chief Ingredients
Lime:
▪Bricks should contain a little finely powdered lime
▪It enables silica to melt silica at furnace heat & binds the particles of
bricks together resulting in strong and durable bricks.
▪Excess amount makes brick vitrified, causes brick to melt and thus its
shape is lost.

Iron oxide:
▪Should contain a small quantity.
▪Acts as a flux like lime, thus helps silica to fuse at low temperature.
▪Imparts red color to bricks on burning.

Magnesia:
▪A small proportion of it decreases the shrinkage & gives yellow tint to
the bricks.
▪Excess amount causes bricks to decay.

Md. Mahbub-ul-Alam, Assoc. Prof, CEN, SUB

Harmful Ingredients:
Lime:

▪Excess lime melts the brick and disfigures it.

▪CaCO3 exists (if any) in lime-lump converts into quick lime on
burning. When these bricks come in contact with water, quick lime
slakes and expands & hence causes disintegration of bricks.

Alkalis:

▪Mainly salts of Na & K

▪Acts as a flux in the kiln and causes fusion, warping and twisting of
bricks.
▪Alkalis absorb moisture from atmosphere and causes dampness &
efflorescence.

Md. Mahbub-ul-Alam, Assoc. Prof, CEN, SUB

Harmful Ingredients:

Pebbles, stones & gravels:

Their presence do not allow thorough mixing of earth, thus make
bricks weaker.

Iron pyrites (FeS):

Causes crystallization & disintegration of bricks during burning.
Discolors bricks in the form of black slag.

Organic matter:
Makes bricks porous resulting in low density and weaker bricks.

Md. Mahbub-ul-Alam, Assoc. Prof, CEN, SUB

Characteristics of good bricks:

✓Uniform color (deep red/cherry)

✓Uniform shape (edges sharp, straight & at right angles with other
edges)
✓Size: standard (9.5”x 4.5”x 2.75” by PWD)
✓Texture and compactness (fine, dense & compacted)
✓Water absorption (<15% for 1st bricks).
✓Crushing strength
✓Hardness (no finger nail impression on brick surface)
✓Soundness (emits metallic or ringing sound)
✓Free from any kinds of non-homogeneity because of gravel, pebbles
and stones.
✓Sound proof & low thermal conductivity

Md. Mahbub-ul-Alam, Assoc. Prof, CEN, SUB

Laboratory tests for bricks:

▪ Absorption capacity test

▪ Crushing strength test

▪ Hardness test

▪ Shape & size test

▪ Soundness test

▪ Soluble salt test

Md. Mahbub-ul-Alam, Assoc. Prof, CEN, SUB

Field tests for bricks::

❑ Arrange two bricks so as to form a ‘T’ and allow a

free fall from a height of 6 ft on to level ground. If the
brick pair resist breakage, the bricks are good.

❑ If it is not possible to impart a finger nail scratch on

to the surface of a brick, it’s a good brick.
[

❑ If hammered a brick with another of similar kind or a

hammer and if metallic or ringing sound emits, the
bricks are good.

Md. Mahbub-ul-Alam, Assoc. Prof, CEN, SUB

 Coloring of bricks depends on

❑ Burning temperature of bricks

❑ Type of fuel used for burning
❑ Chemical composition of bricks
❑ Nature of silica used in moulding
❑ Degree of dryness achieved during burning
❑Degree of air admitted to the kiln during burning

Md. Mahbub-ul-Alam, Assoc. Prof, CEN, SUB

Broad classification of bricks:
1st class brick:

✓Standard sized
✓Uniform yellow or red color
✓Well- burnt
✓Regular shaped
✓Uniform textured
✓AC<20%
✓Crushing strength >1500 psi
✓Emits metallic sound
✓No finger nail impression
✓These bricks are used for superior work of
permanent nature
Md. Mahbub-ul-Alam, Assoc. Prof, CEN, SUB
Broad classification of bricks:
2nd class brick:

✓Standard sized
✓Uniform yellow or red color
✓Well- burnt
✓Regular shaped
✓20<AC<22%
✓Crushing strength >1000 psi
✓Emits metallic sound
✓No finger nail impression
✓ These bricks are commonly used at places
where brick work is to be provided with a coat of
plaster.
Md. Mahbub-ul-Alam, Assoc. Prof, CEN, SUB
Broad classification of bricks:
3rd class brick:

✓Soft and light red colored

✓Shape and size not regular
✓Under burnt (slightly over-burnt is acceptable)
✓Extensive efflorescence
✓Non-uniform texture
✓AC>22%
✓Crushing strength <1000 psi
✓Emits dull/blunt sound
✓Let finger nail scratch impression mark
✓ They are used for unimportant and temporary
structures and at places where rainfall is not
heavy.
Md. Mahbub-ul-Alam, Assoc. Prof, CEN, SUB
Broad classification of bricks:
Over-burnt or Jhama brick:
✓Vitrified
✓Shape distorted
✓High AC
✓Strength may be high or equivalent to 1st brick
✓ Used for lime concrete for foundation

Under-burnt or pilla brick:

✓Used as shurki
✓Half burnt
✓Yellow colored
✓Low strength

Md. Mahbub-ul-Alam, Assoc. Prof, CEN, SUB

Special Bricks
Perforated Bricks
Hollow Bricks
Checkered Bricks
Stalle Brick
Plinth Brick
Jamb Brick
Paving Bricks
Holed Bricks

Md. Mahbub-ul-Alam, Assoc. Prof, CEN, SUB

Md. Mahbub-ul-Alam, Assoc. Prof, CEN, SUB
Md. Mahbub-ul-Alam, Assoc. Prof, CEN, SUB
Md. Mahbub-ul-Alam, Assoc. Prof, CEN, SUB
Md. Mahbub-ul-Alam, Assoc. Prof, CEN, SUB
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Md. Mahbub-ul-Alam, Assoc. Prof, CEN, SUB
 Brickwork Terminology

Head
Joint

Bed
Joint

Course - horizontal layer of brick 22

Brickwork Terminology

Header

Rowlock -
laid on face,
end visible

Stretcher - long dimension horizontal

& face parallel to the wall

Soldier - Laid on its end, face parallel

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Md. Mahbub-ul-Alam, Assoc. Prof, CEN, SUB
24
 BRICK BONDS IN BRICK MASONRY

Running Bond: All courses of brick made of stretchers, with breaking of

joints, from one course to the other

English Bond: made of alternate courses of stretchers and headers, with

breaking of joints

Common Bond or American Bond : Made of stretchers courses, with every

sixth course being made completely of headers, with breaking of joints

Flemish Bond: In the same layer ( or course) stretchers and headers are
laid alternatively, with breaking of joints

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Md. Mahbub-ul-Alam, Assoc. Prof, CEN, SUB
Running Bond English Bond

American Bond Flemish Bond

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Md. Mahbub-ul-Alam, Assoc. Prof, CEN, SUB
 BRICK JOINTS IN BRICK MASONRY
◼ Joint Tooling: Required for giving beauty to mortar joints. Six types:

◼ Weathered Joint: Mortar joint has sloped (downwards) edge

◼ Concave joint: Joint concave inwards

◼ Vee joint: mortar joint is in the form of a V

◼ Flush Joint: Mortar joint is flush with the brick surfaces

◼ Raked Joint: A large portion of the mortar joint is raked out - Not a
safe, impermeable joint

◼ Struck Joint: Mortar joint has a sloped (upwards) edge. Mortar joints
can vary from 1/4” to 1/2” - Usually taken as 3/8”
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Masonry Joints
Weathered

Concave

Vee

Flush

Racked

Concave

Struck 28
Concave Joints

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Md. Mahbub-ul-Alam, Assoc. Prof, CEN, SUB
Raked Joints

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Md. Mahbub-ul-Alam, Assoc. Prof, CEN, SUB