BUILDING MATERIALS-BRICKS,CEMENT

BLOCKS-PROPERTIES AND SPECIFICATIONS

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTIONSIZE MANUFACTURE CLASSIFICATIONPROPERTIESUSESSPECIAL TYPESINNOVATIONS ON BRICKS

BRICKS

INTRODUCTIONBRICKS

The common brick is one of the oldest building material and it is used at present as a leading building material of construction because of its strength, low cost, easy availability etc.The bricks are made from soil and hence the properties of bricks depend on the properties of soil. Following are the constituents of good brick earth.

Alumina-20 to 30%Silica-50 to 60%Lime-<5%Oxides of IronMagnesia

The size of the Indian standard brick is 19cm*9cm*9cm.With mortar joints the sizes of these bricks will be 20cm*10cm*10cm.But the size of the traditional brick is 23cm*11.4cm*7.6cm.

SIZE OF BRICKS

Preparation of brick earthMoulding of bricksDrying of bricksBurning of bricks

MANUFACTURE

Unburnt or sun dried bricks

Burnt bricks

CLASSIFICATION

Aesthetic Bricks offer natural and a variety of colors, including various

texturesStrength Bricks offer excellent high compressive strength.Porosity The porosity of bricks in attributed to its fine capillaries. The

ability to release and absorb moisture is one of the most important and useful properties of bricks, regulating temperatures and humidity inside structures.

Fire Resistance When prepared properly a brick structure can give a fire

protection  maximum rating of 6 hours

PROPERTIES

Sound Insulation The brick sound insulation is normally 45 decibels for a 4.5 inches

brick thickness and 50 decibels for a nine inch thick brick.

Insulation Bricks can exhibit above normal thermal insulation  when compared to

other building materials. Bricks can help regulate and maintain constant interior temperatures of a structure due to their ability to absorb and slowly release heat. This way bricks can produce significant energy savings, more than 30% of energy saving, when compared to wood.

Wear A brick is so strong, that its molecular composition provides

excellent wear resistance.

Efflorescence Efflorescence forms on concrete structures and surfaces when soluble

salts dissolved in water are deposited and accumulated on surfaces forming a visible scum.

Bricks are used for construction of walls, foundations of structures

Used in construction of bridges and damsUsed for paving and road worksFirebricks are used for furnaces, chimneys etcBricks are used for ornamental works

USES

HOLLOW BRICKS-Hollow bricks are prepared from special type of clay and are light in weight. It has hollow spaces. The thickness of such brick is about 20-25mm.They reduce transmission of heat, sound because of the hollow cavities.

SPECIAL TYPES

PERFORATED BRICKS-These bricks have perforations. They are light in weight and less material only required. It is easy to manufacture.

PAVING BRICKS-The clay with higher percentage of iron is used for the manufacture of paving bricks.

SOLID BLOCK BRICKS-Solid block bricks are of same composition of hollow block bricks. Only difference is these bricks do not have any hollow spaces.

INNOVATIONS

The elevation of TAKA’s mews house features a decorative pattern of projecting bricks;

On the opposite side of the house, the corresponding bricks have been removed, leaving holes for ventilation; 

The use of brick continues on the interior, where it creates warm and tactile surfaces;

INTRODUCTIONCLASSIFICATIONMANUFACTUREUSESADVANTAGESINNOVATIONS ON

BLOCKS

CEMENT BLOCKSCONTENTS

Block is a building material use for construct the buildings. Blocks are used for Build the walls Make the decorated floorBy using blocks work can be done easily and it save money and

time.

INTRODUCTION

Hollow blocksCellular blocksSolid blocksSpecial blocks

CLASSIFICATION

HOLLOW BLOCKS-Volume of cavities may vary 25 to 50%.Uesd for load bearing walls. Nominal length 390mm and height 190mm

CELLULAR BLOCKS-Volume of cavities which should not pass through the block between 25 to 50%.This is a highly thermal insulating concrete based material used for both internal and external construction.

SOLID BLOCKS-Certain blocks have non standard block heights. Minimum volume of solid material is 75%.

SPECIAL BLOCKS-A block meant for special application such as corner, joints.

MixingMouldingCuringCubing

MANUFACTURE

Blocks are used for build,BuildingsWallsRetaining wallsBridgesCulvertsPavements

USES

Cost effectiveEase of construction-light weight, regular shapes, modify

like corner blocksEnvironment aspects-aesthetic pleasant compared to clay

brick.Design aspects-in block work, hollows are unfilled. In

applications where the loads are high, hollows can be filled with concrete, and also be reinforced.

ADVANTAGES

INNOVATIONSMany new technologies are changing the way we build and

what we build with concrete. 

Adding optical fibres to a concrete mix generates translucent concrete. This “see-through” development is changing the perception of concrete’s opaque mass.

Reactive powder concrete is extremely workable, durable and yields ultra-high strengths without using coarse aggregates. Reaching compressive strengths of 30,000 pounds per square inch (psi), this new-age concrete also has tensile strength with the inclusion of steel and synthetic fibres.

Self Consolidating Concrete (SCC) eliminates the need for mechanical consolidation and yields a smooth surface finish without mix segregation.