For strong walls of a house, bricks are used as a main material for construction along with cement and iron. To select the best brick some quality testing methods are available so that at the site itself you can check its strength, one of the tests is that, by lifting the brick block to the height above your shoulder and dropping it down, the force of gravity and the weight of the brick give enough stress on a brick so that it is determined to the bonding strength of the clay used for making the bricks, the result of the test should not break the brick into pieces if the brick stays as it is then the lot can be used for construction. The second test is very simple just place the brick in a bucket full of water, and allow it to stay for 1 to 2 hours, if it doesn’t get dispersed into the water it is a good brick, there are methods used for determining the waterproof bricks too.
Advanced Technical Method for Selection and Testing of Bricks and Building Stones for Construction
The selection and testing of bricks and building stones are crucial for ensuring the structural integrity and durability of a construction project. This article outlines the advanced technical methods for selecting and testing bricks and building stones, highlighting their physical, mechanical, and chemical properties.
Brick
Selection and Testing
Physical
Properties
1. Density: Measure the bulk density of bricks using the Archimedes' principle (ASTM C134). The density of bricks should be between 1.8-2.2 g/cm³.
2.
Porosity: Determine the apparent porosity of bricks using the water absorption
test (ASTM C373). The water absorption of bricks should be less than 10%.
3.
Dimensional Tolerance: Verify the brick's dimensional tolerance using the ISO
9001 standard. The dimensional tolerance of bricks should be within ± 1.5 mm.
Mechanical
Properties
1. Compressive Strength: Determine the compressive strength of bricks using the ASTM C216 standard. The compressive strength of bricks should be at least 10 MPa.
2. Tensile
Strength: Measure the tensile strength of bricks using the ASTM C190 standard.
The tensile strength of bricks should be at least 1.5 MPa.
3. Water
Absorption: Evaluate the water absorption of bricks using the ASTM C216
standard. The water absorption of bricks should be less than 5%.
Chemical
Properties
1. Chemical Composition: Analyze the chemical composition of bricks using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) or X-ray diffraction (XRD). The chemical composition of bricks should be in accordance with the ASTM C216 standard.
2. pH
Value: Determine the pH value of bricks using the ASTM C617 standard. The pH
value of bricks should be between 6-8.
Building
Stone Selection and Testing
Physical
Properties
1. Density: Measure the bulk density of building stones using the Archimedes' principle (ASTM C97). The density of building stones should be between 2.5-3.0 g/cm³.
2.
Porosity: Determine the apparent porosity of building stones using the water
absorption test (ASTM C97). The water absorption of building stones should be
less than 5%.
3.
Dimensional Tolerance: Verify the building stone's dimensional tolerance using
the ISO 9001 standard. The dimensional tolerance of building stones should be
within ± 1.5 mm.
Mechanical
Properties
1. Compressive Strength: Determine the compressive strength of building stones using the ASTM C170 standard. The compressive strength of building stones should be at least 50 MPa.
2. Tensile
Strength: Measure the tensile strength of building stones using the ASTM C190
standard. The tensile strength of building stones should be at least 5 MPa.
3.
Abrasion Resistance: Evaluate the abrasion resistance of building stones using
the ASTM C241 standard. The abrasion resistance of building stones should be
less than 10%.
Chemical
Properties
1. Chemical Composition: Analyze the chemical composition of building stones using XRF or XRD. The chemical composition of building stones should be in accordance with the ASTM C170 standard.
2. pH
Value: Determine the pH value of building stones using the ASTM C617 standard.
The pH value of building stones should be between 6-8.
Refractory Brick Selection and Testing
Refractory bricks are commonly made from Silica, Silicon carbide, Magnesite, Dolomite and Zircon.
Physical
Properties
1. Density: Measure the bulk density of refractory bricks using the Archimedes' principle (ASTM C134). The density of refractory bricks should be between 2.5-3.5 g/cm³.
2.
Porosity: Determine the apparent porosity of refractory bricks using the water
absorption test (ASTM C373). The water absorption of refractory bricks should
be less than 5%.
3.
Dimensional Tolerance: Verify the refractory brick's dimensional tolerance
using the ISO 9001 standard. The dimensional tolerance of refractory bricks
should be within ± 1.5 mm.
Mechanical
Properties
1. Compressive Strength: Determine the compressive strength of refractory bricks using the ASTM C216 standard. The compressive strength of refractory bricks should be at least 50 MPa.
2. Tensile
Strength: Measure the tensile strength of refractory bricks using the ASTM C190
standard. The tensile strength of refractory bricks should be at least 5 MPa.
3. Thermal
Shock Resistance: Evaluate the thermal shock resistance of refractory bricks
using the ASTM C1171 standard. The thermal shock resistance of refractory
bricks should be at least 10 cycles.
Chemical Properties
1. Chemical Composition: Analyze the chemical composition of refractory bricks using XRF or XRD.
2. pH Value: Determine the pH value
of refractory bricks using the ASTM C617 standard.
The selection and testing of bricks and building stones require a comprehensive understanding of their physical, mechanical, and chemical properties. By employing advanced technical methods, construction professionals can ensure the quality and durability of building materials, ultimately leading to safer and more sustainable structures.
Brick made of clay should be baked at temperatures 700 to 1100 oC, and the check the porosity of the brick from the contract company should be because it is the main property that determine the mechanical strength of the brick, the porosity values should be around 1 to 2.5 microns which are capable of withstanding any weather conditions, acid rains, and salt crystallization.
Bricks are classified into two types based on carbonate contain
- Brick with carbonates: Calcium and Magnesium silicates are present which are baked at temperatures 900 to 1000 centigrade and have micropores of size less than one micron, they show high resistance to salty weather.
- Brick without carbonate: Mullite percentage is more in it and baked at 1100 centigrade temperatures, its macropores are greater than 1 micron. Used for all regular construction away from salt water.
- Kaolinite: Al2O3.2SiO2.2H2O,
- Montmorillonite: Al2O3.4SiO2.nH2O
- Stealite is the electrical dielectric compound made of talc,
- kaolinite material used for electrical porcelain bodies, this is known as white clay.