Test No.

5
Compressive Strength of Bricks
Introduction:
When the bricks laid in a structure are subjected to compression. In tall
structures, the bricks placed in bottom layers are subjected to greater compression
and are thus liable to damage. The bricks are therefore to be tested for compression.
Purpose of the test:
To determine compressive strength of bricks
Apparatus:
1. Electrical oven.
2. Compression testing machine.

Procedure:
1. Select 5 bricks at random from the stack of bricks.
2. Dry the test specimens in a ventilated oven at (110 to 115°C) for not less than
24 h and until two successive weightings at intervals of 2 h show an increment
of loss not greater than 0.2 % of the last previously determined weight of the
specimen.
3. Cool the specimens in a drying room maintained at a temperature of (24 ±
8°C), with a relative humidity between 30 and 70 % and weigh each one.
4. Test brick specimens flatwise (that is, the load shall be applied in the direction
of the depth of the brick).
5. Put the brick specimens in the testing machine and load them until the
specimens crushed and record the maximum applied load.

Note: Speed of Testing— The load is applied to the specimens uniformly by using
the compression machine. A rate of loading 0.25 N/mm2/min (0.25 MPa/sec.) is
applied
Calculation:
Calculate the compressive strength of each specimen as follows:
Compressive Strength, C=A/P
Where:
C = compressive strength of the specimen, N/mm2
P = maximum load, kg or N, indicated by the testing machine, and
A = average of the gross areas of the upper and lower bearing surfaces of the
specimen, mm2.

Specification:
Iraqi Standard Specification (ISS) specifies (recommends) following values of
compressive strength for each class of bricks.

Compressive strength
Grades
N/mm2
Avg. of 10 bricks individual

A 18 16

B 13 11

C 9 7
 Data Sheet
Test No.: 5
Title: Compressive Strength of Bricks
Student Name:
Group No.:
Date of testing:

Average
2 Compressive
No. Area (A), mm Load (P), N Compressive
Strength, N/mm2
Strength, N/mm2

Signature