Brick Composition and Properties Quiz

Study Notes

Brick Composition and Properties

Lime: A component of brick earth that prevents cracking, shrinking, and warping.
Silica: A component of brick earth that gives it strength, durability, and resistance to heat.
Alumina: A component of brick earth that provides plasticity and helps retain shape.
Iron Oxide: A component of brick earth adds red color to bricks.

Brick Classification and Strength

1st Class Brick: Has a crushing strength of at least 10.7 N/mm² and is used for load-bearing structures.
2nd Class Brick: Used for non-load-bearing walls and partitions.
3rd Class Brick: Used for paving and flooring.
4th Class Brick: Used for filler walls and less demanding applications.

Brick Manufacturing Process

Weathering: The process of exposing clay to moisture for softening.
Tempering: Bringing the clay to the desired hardness.
Moulding: Shaping the clay into bricks.
Drying: Removing moisture from the molded bricks.
Burning: Firing the bricks in a kiln until they harden and develop their color.

Brick Types and Sizes

Modular Bricks: Standard size: 23 cm x 10 cm x 5.5 cm.
Traditional Bricks: Size may vary, but a common size in Nepal is 22 cm x 11 cm x 6 cm.
Specially-shaped bricks: Used for sloping walls, curved walls, corners, and other architectural features.

Brick Terminology

Bat: A shortened brick piece.
Closer: A small brick piece used at the end of masonry.
Frog: A depression in a brick that helps improve bonding and reduce material usage.
Queen Closer: A three-quarter bat used to break up horizontal joints.
Quoin Brick: A brick that forms the external corners of walls.

Brick Bonds

Stretcher bond: A bond where the long side of the brick is visible.
Header bond: A bond where the short side of the brick is visible.
English bond: Alternate courses of headers and stretchers.
Flemish bond: Each course has alternate headers and stretchers.
Dutch bond: Combination of Flemish and English bond with headers at alternate corners.
Rat-trap bond: A specific bond arrangement.

Brick Tests

Soundness Test: Measures the brick's ability to withstand freeze-thaw cycles.
Compressive Strength Test: Measures the brick's ability to resist crushing.
Water Absorption Test: Measures the brick's ability to absorb water.
Brittleness Test: Measures the brick's resistance to breakage.

Brick Use and Mortar

Internal Walls: Use 2nd Class Brick.
Lime in Mortar: Improves plasticity and workability.

Other

Efflorescence: A white powdery deposit on bricks caused by alkalies in the brick.
Soldier Brick: Brick placed vertically with the longer side visible.
Bevelled Bat: A brick that is cut to a specific angle to aid in achieving proper alignment in joints.
Over-burnt bricks: Bricks that are fired at a high temperature, resulting in a darker color and increased hardness.
Sundry Bricks: Unburnt bricks or bricks that have not been properly fired.
NBC 109:1994: National Building Code of Nepal that specifies the size of bricks used for building construction.
Clamp burning: A less efficient method of brick burning using a temporary kiln.
Continuous kiln: A more efficient kiln, with an efficiency of 70-90%, that allows for continuous firing.
Intermittent kiln: A kiln that is periodically fired.
Open firing kiln : A simple kiln with an open design.

Description

Test your knowledge on the composition, classification, and manufacturing process of bricks. Learn about the different components that make up brick earth and the various classes of bricks used in construction. This quiz covers essential aspects for anyone interested in materials engineering.