Al-Farabi University College
Civil Engineering Department
Material Engineering laboratory
.Experiment No. (8) Brick Test
Determining the compressive strength test of the
. clay bricks
Name: Hayder Jabbar Sahep
First year
Supervision Dr. Raad Muneeb Al Sheikh
2024-2023
Brick
Clay bricks which are manufactured by burning clay and used in general
:building construction can be classified to
Class A: this type is used in parts of loaded structures and foundation and
exposed to erosion by climatic and natural factors or bricks used in external
.walls exposed to corrosion
Class B: this type is used in parts of loaded structures which is not exposed
to erosion due to climatic and natural factors and in external and internal
.walls protected from humidity
Class C: this type is used in the parts of the structures that are not exposed
to climatic or natural factors and are in parts of unloaded structures such as
.partitions
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:Shapes and dimensions of bricks
1- Solid brick: bricks does not contain holes and dimensions is
(240*115*75) mm
2- Perforated brick: it’s the brick that the proportion of holes not more
than (25%) by volume and its dimensions are (240*115*75) mm.
3- Hollow brick: it’s the brick that the proportion of holes more than
(25%) by volume and its dimensions are (240*115*75) mm.
The physical test must be done according to the Iraqi standard specifications
(No.24 -1988) and the requirements accordant to the Iraqi standard
specifications (No.25 -1988) and this test is. Compressive strength
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Test No. eight
.Test name: compressive strength test for bricks
Purpose of test: To know the compressive strength for a brick and
.compare it with the Iraqi specification
:Tools
.to be taken randomly )Bricks 10( -1
.Pan filled with water -2
.Compressive strength device -3
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:Procedure
1- Ten units (bricks) are taken randomly and are usually checked
according to their construction status.
2- The dimensions of both loading surfaces must be calculated to the
nearest (1 mm) and the smallest surface area is used to calculate the
compressive strength.
3- Brick units are immersed in water at room temperature for (24 +1
hours).
4- A hydraulic machine is used to check the compressive strength.
5- The unit (brick) is lifted from water and wiped with a piece of fabric,
then placed between two (3 mm thick) wood planks and placed
between the two compression boards.
6- Pressure is raised and increased at a rate of (14 MPa per minute) until
the unit (brick) fails, and then the failure load is recorded.
:Calculations
Compressive strength = failure load (N) / (cross section area subjected to
(MPa)
load (mm2) MPa = N/mm2
:Iraqi standard specifications limits no.25 at 1988
Limits of the Iraqi standard specification states that the minimum
:Compressive strength (MPa) is
Type of brick Minimum compressive Avg. Compressive strength for
strength for one brick ten bricks (MPa)
(MPa)
A 16 18
B 11 13
C 7 9
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