Bricks

Bricks - History
• Source - Clay

• Sundry bricks (Adobes)

• 8000 BC (Jericho - Palestine)
• 7500 BC (Syria)
• 7000 BC (Egypt, Indus Valley)
• 2000 BC (China)

• Burnt clay bricks

• 2900 BC (Indus Valley)
• 1000 BC (China)

• Why clay bricks?

 Bricks - Classification
• Classification
• Based on Use (Common Bricks, Engineering Bricks (heavy Loads - BS EN
771-1), Facing Bricks, Refractory Bricks, Acid resistant bricks (IS
4860:1996), Special bricks (silicon carbide, hollow brick, perforated brick,
bull nose brick, light weight clay bricks)

• Based on Physical requirements (colour, dimension, water absorption &

efflorescence)
• Class I, Class II, Class III

• Based on Strength requirements (IS 2180:1997 & IS 1077: 1997)

• ClassDesignation-40,45&35,30,25,20,17.5,15,12.5,10.0,7.5,5.0,3.5 (MPa)

• Based on materials used (Fly ash, calcium silicate..)

 Dimensions & weight of bricks
• Traditional & Metric size (modular bricks) (IS 1077:1997)
• Traditional – 230 mm (L) × 110 mm (W) × 70 mm (D)
• Modular
• Actual - 190 mm (L) × 90 mm (W) × 90 mm (D)
• Nominal - 200 mm (L) × 100 mm (W) × 100 mm (D)

• Frog – Depression made at the top of the brick

• Weight of brick – 3 to 3.5 kg/m3

Clay Brick - Composition (IS 2117:1975)
• Clay : 20-30 % by weight

• Silt : 20-35 % by weight

• Sand : 35-50 % by weight

• Clay + Silt > 50 %

• CaO + MgO < 1 % (alluvial soil)

• Water soluble materials < 1 % by weight

 Functions of constituents of brick earth
• Sand (Silica) – Prevents shrinkage, cracking and warping of bricks

• Clay (Alumina) – makes brick earth plastic and lends hardness

• Lime and oxides of iron – Flux

• Oxides of iron – red colour brick

• Magnesia in clay with oxide of iron – yellow brick