2. BUILDING MATERIALS
Generally building materials to be used have been divided
into three groups i.e:
CERAMICS: These are either rock or clay minerals or mixture
of both. they are mostly used without purifying and abundantly
available. Least expensive, hard, heavy. and non corrosive.
e.g Brick, Stone, Limestone, Concrete, Mortar, Plaster, Cement.
Brick Stone or concrete cement
3. BUILDING MATERIALS
• ORGANICS: Materials which have carbon as their
essential element are organic in nature. e.g Wood and
plastics, rubber and silicon.
They are soft and lower in strength and would deflect.
cheap
light weight
non corrosive
water resistant and possess non structural properties.
4. BUILDING MATERIALS
• METALS: These are extracted from natural ores in
shape of oxides, sulphides. These are expensive and
corrosive in nature. whenever we talk about metals it
takes the tensile stresess.
5. Brick
Bricks may be defined as artificial material
obtained by moulding clay in rectangular
blocks of uniform size, which are finally dried
and burnt at high temperature to form a dense
and compact product. Bricks are chiefly
employed in building construction and
architectural compositions. It has been
regarded as one of the longest lasting and
strongest building materials used throughout
history.
6. Brick
Common building brick is not only one of the oldest
but also the most extensively used material of
construction. Popularity of bricks as a material of
construction is due to the following reasons:
1. Local & Cheap availability
2. Strength
3. Durability
4. Reliability
5. Insulating property aganist heat and sound
7. Background Of Bricks
Before writing was invented, cities in the Indus valley and
in Sumer (present Iraq) had developed sophisticated
masonry. The Sumerians built tall buildings seven
stories high with baked clay bricks (circa 4,000 BC).
They were the Biblical builders of the ill-fated tower of
Babel, also built with masonry, which was a city
situated 20 miles south of present-day Baghdad.
Further development of masonry were brought forth by
the Babylonians, Egyptians and ancient Chinese. Many
of their structures are still standing.
8. Background Of
Bricks
The Romans perfected the use of
masonry with their bridges,
aqueducts and their domes.
These domes (the Pantheon was
the world’s largest until
recently) were the extension of
their knowledge of the semi-
circular arch expanded into
three-dimensions made entirely
with masonry.
9. Background Of Bricks
Since prehistoric times up until the mid-1800s wood, stone
and brick were the primary building materials. However,
by the late 1800s two new products had been developed:
structural steel and reinforced concrete. Masonry has
taken a secondary role ever since, primarily because it is
very labor intensive, wall heights are limited and their
weight required large and expensive foundations. A
modern variant to the brick is the concrete masonry unit
(CMU), which has reduced the cost of masonry for
residential construction.
10. Properties of Good Bricks
1. Color:
The color of good brick should be uniform.
It may deep red, cherry or copper colored.
2. Shape:
Bricks should be uniform in shape with
sharp straight right angled edges.
11. Properties of Good Bricks
3. Size:
Size of the bricks should be standard as
prescribed by Indian standards. [19cm x
9cm x 9cm]
4. Soundness:
A good brick should give metallic ringing
sound when struck with another brick.'
12. Properties of Good Bricks
5. Hardness:
A good brick should be sufficiently hard
which can be tested by a finger nail. No
mark should be left on the surface of the
brick when scratched with thumb-nail.
6. Crushing strength:
The crushing strength of a brick should not
be less than 3.5N/mm2
13. Properties of Good Bricks
7. Water absorption:
First class brick should not absorb water
more than 20% of its dry weight when
soaked in water for 24hrs.
8. Structure:
A good brick should show fine, compact
and uniform structure in broken form.
14. Properties of Good Bricks
9. Thermal conductivity & Fire resistance:
It should have thermal conductivity. A
good brick should have adequate fire
resistance. Ordinary brick can resist
temperature upto 12000C
10. Strength:
Bricks should not break when dripped on
hard ground from a height of about 1m.
15. Properties of Good Bricks
11. Durability:
A good brick should be able to resist the
effects of weathering agencies like
temperature, rain, etc.
16. Classification of Bricks
Depending upon the nature of the soil from which
the bricks are made, the moulded finish and the
quality of burning, the bricks are classified into
different categories. Bricks are broadly classified
into two categories:
1. Sundried bricks or kacha bricks or unburnt
bricks
2. Burnt Bricks or Pucca Bricks
17. Classification of Bricks
Burnt Bricks or Pucca Bricks are further classified
as:
a. First Class Bricks
b. Second Class Bricks
c. Third Class Bricks
d. Overburnt Bricks
18. Characteristics & Uses
1. Sun-dried bricks or Kacha Bricks:
These bricks after moulding have been dried in
the sun, and are used in temporary and cheap
structures.
Limitation:
These bricks should not be used at places
exposed to heavy rains.
19. Characteristics & Uses- First
Class Bricks
2. Burnt or Pucca bricks
a. First Class Bricks:
Characteristics:
I. These are sound well burnt bricks of a uniform color.
II. All the faces are uniform and smooth. All edges are
sharp.
III. These are free from cracks.
IV. A broken surface shows a uniform compact texture.
V. Scratch with finger nails leave no mark.
20. VI. These do not absorb more than 15% water of their own
weight of water when kept immersed for24 hours.
VII.Two first class bricks when struck with each other give a
sharp metallic ringing sound.
VIII.These may have only a slight presence of efflorescence.
Uses:
I. Used for all sound work of permanent character.
II. Used in facework of a structure no to be plastered but
only pointed.
III. Used in flooring and reinforced brickwork.
Characteristics & Uses- First
Class Bricks
21. Characteristics & Uses- Second
Class Bricks
b. Second Class Bricks
Characteristics:
These are hard and well burnt bricks as the first class bricks
but maybe somewhat irregular in shape or size and may
have a slightly rough surface.
Uses:
I. Used in unimportant situations where the masonry is to
be plastered.
II. Used as a brick ballast in R.C.C work.
22. Characteristics & Uses- Third
Class Bricks
c. Third Class Or Pilla Bricks
Characteristics:
I. These are a little unburnt bricks.
II. These are soft.
III. These have lighter colors
IV. These emit a dull sound when struck aganist each other.
Uses:
These are used in temporary constructions not subjected
to heavy loads or too heavy rains.
23. Characteristics & Uses- Over
burnt Bricks
d. Overburnt Bricks
Characteristics:
These are over burnt bricks that being near the fire in the
kiln get fused and loose their shape.
Uses:
I. Used for constructing inferior structures.
II. Used in the foundation of the structures.
III. Used as a aggregate for concrete.
IV. Used as a road metal.
