DUHOK POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY

HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES ENGINEERING

FIRST YEAR (2016-2017)

REPORT OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

By: Heval Mohammed Ibrahim
‫هفال محمد ابراهيم‬
Experiment Name: 2.Water absorption test for bricks
Date Submitted: 04-02-2017
Group Number: (B)
 2.Water absorption test for bricks
2.1.Introduction:
*Water absorption means the ability of absorption water for
the brick by filling the voids inside the brick with water.
*Water absorption is a negative characteristic for bricks
because it reduces the strength of the bricks
 2.Water absorption test for bricks
2.2. The purpose of test:
The objective of this test is to determine the water absorption
capacity of a brick.
2.3.Principal Apparatus:
1. Ten randomly selected specimen should be tested.
2. Electrical oven (with temperature 105o - 115oC).
3. Sensitive scale (balance).
4. Water basin.
5. A clean piece of cloth.
 2.Water absorption test for bricks
2.4.The specification:
According to IQS 25/1988, bricks are classified as:
Clay brick Maximum limit of water absorption percentage
Class One unit Average of 10 units
A 22% 20%
B 26% 24%
C 28% 26%
 2.Water absorption test for bricks

2.5.Test procedure:
We dry the specimen in the drying oven at a temperature of
105C° - 115C° for at least 24 hours.
Then we take out the specimen from the oven and let cooled
to room temperature.
After that we weigh the specimens accurately (M) to the
nearest 1 gram.
Then we immerse the specimen completely in water basin at
a temperature of 27° ±3° C for 24 hours.
Finally we cleaned the soaked bricks with a damp piece of
cloth and weigh (M1) to the nearest 1 gram within 5 minutes.
 2.Water absorption test for bricks
2.6.Calculations and result:
In this test, the absorption will be expressed as percentage, to
the nearest 0.1%, in weight of dry material:
M 1−M
Absorption = M
× 100

Where:
M1 = mass of saturated material (g)
M = mass of dry material (g)
 2.Water absorption test for bricks
Specimen Dry Saturated Absorption% Class
No. weight(g) weight(g)
1 1545 1915 23.948% B
2 1480 1850 25% B
3 1480 1880 27.027% C
4 1510 1880 25.503% B
5 1535 1900 23.778% B
6 1500 1895 26.33% C
7 1535 1945 26.71% C
8 1445 1880 30.103% C
9 1490 1865 25.167% B
10 1510 1885 24.834% B
Average 25.84% C

M 1−M 1915−1545
AbsorptionSpecimen 1= × 100= ×100=23.948 %
M 1545

Just like this way we measure the absorption of all the

specimens and the results will be like in table.

23.948+25+27.027+ 25.503+23.778+26.33+26.71+30.103+25.167+24.834
Average Absorption=
10
258.403
= 10
=25.84%

Result: According to our result we realize that the average of

this 10 specimens is in Class C.
 2.Water absorption test for bricks
2.7.Disscusion:
* The individual test for bricks is important to know water
absorption of each one where it varies from one to another.
*The final result is taken as average because as we say before
the water absorption varies from brick to another.
* The obtained result will help us a lot in building.
For example: in the base of the construction we can use both
of Class A and Class B stones but I prefer Class A bricks
because it is better than Class B bricks and the Class C bricks
we can use them in internal walls.
*The specimens are completely dried in oven to get the real
weigh of the samples correctly.
* Soaked bricks are cleaned with a damp piece of cloth to
know the mass of the saturated stone properly so the result
will be one hundred percent correct.