The Plasticity Index Of Soils For Red Bricks

Which Burning In Traditional Furnace System

For Ancient Building.
By : 1. Ir. H a s n i t a MSCE
2. Ir. Samsudin Silaen M.T

For Seminar : The fourth Industrial Revolution : Redesigning Education.

UNIVERSITAS EKASAKTI PADANG ,UNIVERSITI KEBANGSAAN MALAYSIA

and POLITEKNIK SEBRANG PREI PENANG, MALAYSIA

08 May 2018 s/d 09 May 2018

 Abstract on my proposal :
• Candi Portibi or Bahal Temple in Padang Lawas Utara region of North Sumatera,was made by redbricks, has an Ornament
at the Base about hundreds years under the hot sun of bogs and paddy area. 14 of temples near did not paid attention and
tend to be abandon by the people passer by. The experiment about plasticity index of soils for Red Bricks by burning in
Traditional Furnace system so that could help for others Ancient Building nearby. The soil sample was taken from the bogs
and paddy field not so far from Portibi Bahal Temple area. Some of mud from Barumun River and fine silty was added to
the soil before baking in the traditional furnace. As clay has the unique texture and structure mostly contains kaolinite
(AL2Si2O5) Kalium, Aluminium disordered of (Ca, Na, Si, Al). Kaolinite is formed from hydrothermal changes of
aluminosilicate minerals. Crumbling of calsium carbonate and Andesite nearby or Granitic or Gabroo, are the largest source
of kaolinite that are water-absorbing and do not expand when in contact with water. So that the clay from a paddy field,
river, drainage , of soil from this village subdistrict potentially be used as raw material of red bricks with several different
quality. The experiment for redbricks was made by traditional system and using traditional furnace was made with local
clay and fine sand mostly silty composition by soaking for a long time and burn in bone fire similary of traditional long era.
The soil should be plastis so that the plasticity index experiment was tested in Politechnic Negeri Medan Laboratory. The
red Bricks should not be too coarse so that could be nice in the surface to be carving as an Ornament of Candi Portibi or
Bahal Temple. Still the red bricks could be durable as a temple has hundreds years under the North Sumatera sun as the dry
area, and not too fertile soil scarecely to be a forest its kind of wondering whole years. Lack of old tree so the its kind of
wondering how to burn the bricks. Padang Lawas has the 34o C not too much rain and hot climate. There is no SNI standard
will be using since its just trying the using red bricks for building ancient renovation construction. The result of
characteristic was found that the quality of bricks that meets the is 1: ½ which is heated at with the traditional bone fire will
bed different by plasticity , fine sand and in some area like Bali and Trowulan they higher temprature and using sieve in
order to have the best quality of soil for bricks at least 1020 ° C in Gianyar, Tulikup Bali, a Good quality bricks sieve
analisis and variation 1: ½ of materials was heated at 1000 ° C-1020 ° C
 Abstract
•Candi Portibi or Bahal Temple in Padang Lawas Utara region of North Sumatera,was made
by redbricks, has an Ornament at the base about hundreds years under the hot sun of
swampy and paddy area. There are 14 beautiful temples at the side of Barumun river would
be maintain regularly. The experiment about plasticity index of soils for Red Bricks by burning
in Traditional Furnace system might could help other Ancient Building which has the same
problem. The soil sample was taken from the swampy and paddy field not so far from Portibi
Bahal Temple area. Some of mud from Barumun River and fine silty was added to the soil
before baking in the traditional furnace. As clay has the unique texture and structure mostly
contains kaolinite (AL2Si2O5), kalium, aluminium amorph of (Ca, Na, Si, Al). Kaolinite is
formed from hydrothermal changes of aluminosilicate minerals. The Crumbling of calsium
carbonate, Andesite nearby, Granitic or Gabroo, are the largest source of kaolinite that are
water-absorbing which do not expand when its contact to water. So that the clay from a paddy
field, river, drainage, of soil from this village subdistrict, potentially be used as raw material of
red bricks with several different quality. The indexs plasticity of soil in this research
experiment in order to have the redbricks for ancient building which was made by traditional
system and using traditional furnace was made with local clay and fine sand or some silty has
the indexs plasticity of the soils is around 18 up to 34. The surface characteristic of bricks
which tested to the clay and fine sands 2:1 which is baked in traditional furnace with the
differenciation of this plasticity indexs not too brittle, and the strength towards pressure just
safe not more than 20 Kg/cm2. It would be accepted if the construction not too high.

Keywords: Plasticity-Indexs, Red-Bricks, Traditional-Furnace. Ancient Building.

Location
 What the artist say for
Red Bricks
We are all feel that we know redbricks are :
“we almost see them almost everyday , the
brother and sister of ceramic on our plate,
we are welcome it at the center of
domestics lives”.

By Edmund de wall.
• An important part of our lives, being
significant in many different ways, its
inspired by many different idea,
• Since beginning people either cook and
eat from it .
• In civil engineering,.. It is the oldest and
widespread art forms, knowns to
humandkind.
• By Mary Chappelhow
 Ancient Building in Sumatera.

1. Tandihat, North Sumatera

2. Portibi or Bahal Temples in North
Sumatera
3. Muara Takus Temple in Riau,
Sumatera
 Fence with Red bricks in Bali ,

“mortar” as a
special connections system so thin, almost hiding
in the shadow.
 Ancient building
in
Padang Lawas Utara
North Sumatera

The wisdom of people for baking

the red bricks in a traditional
Furnace
The ornament at the base of temple in Portibi
After 600 years,
Ornament from Portibi Temple in North Sumater

Candi Bajang Ratu Trowulan, Mojokerto,

East Java and the wisdom of the local
people how to make a red brick
Various soils that could comes either from the mountains to the valleys
hundreds years ago, while Bahal area might be bleaching to be a low
land such as Padang Lawas right now..
Indexs plasticity
 CURRICULUM VITAE

1. Name : Ir. Hasnita MSCE

2. Place and Birth : Pakanbaru-RIAU 20 November 1954
3. Address : Jln Bunga Wijaya Kesuma 66 Medan
4. Telp no : 081573634575
5. Office : Politeknik Negeri Medan. Almamater 1 SUMUT.
6. telp : 081573634575
7. E-mail : hasnt_05@yahoo.co.id
8. . Teaching in 1.Material Science
2. Soil Mechanics and Foundation
3. Composite Bridges Construction

 year of graduate 1976-1985 1993-1995

University HKBP Nommensen Bradley University,

University, Indonesia Illinois. USA
Ornament from Portibi Temple in North Sumatera

Candi Bajang Ratu Trowulan East Java

• The Plasticity Index Of Soils For Red Bricks
Which Burning In Traditional Furnace System
For Ancient Building.

• Figure 1. Muara Takus Temples – Riau, One

of an ancient building in Sumatera
• Abstract.
 Background
• Civil has a very close relative to culture and the people
needs.
• Civil engineering and technical how to build always
support the people needs, which is very important in
education for the next generation.
• The ancient building is a proof that long ago, the people
already try to make not only the best construction but
also beautiful art.
• the ancient building should preserve and maintained
from time to time so that the heritage still in good
condition for the next generation.
• Soils is digging from the swampy area, or paddy field
nearby. Maybe longtime ago the people makes redbrick
and build the temples by using the same system. The
soils is baking in a traditional furnace.

• from alluvial soil or clay from the river, and then by using
simple techniques such as soaking in a long time,
pressure into small patern, the result varies or small
amount not as well as expected.
• BACKGROUND
– The utilization of natural resources in order to
stimulate the people to be aware of ancient
building and green environtment.
• The materials in Civil Construction has always selected of
strong material, easy to handle, easy to find, stiff, healthy,
and cheap. Soils as a source of making redbricks could be
used as important materials. In this case, this research could
use the soils nearby and try to indicate the clay either illit
and montmorrilonit in it. So that the soils could be more easy
to handle.
• Indeed, the alternative materials should be consider that has
an beautiful appearance, unique, relative to handle, light
weight, neatly to install, and wether easy to clean. The red
brick in Sumatra more than 600 years old.
• Apa yang diperiksa?

• Long time ago,The conservative system could help to build a

beautiful building, such as Candi Portibi, Candi Bajang ratu in
Java, Candi Muara Takus in Riau. now, whether the indexs plastis
could indicate the clay have an illite or montmorrilonit inside.
Both of the clay almost have the same color and aroma. Almost
the same particale but illit still could be use as source of brick but
montmorrilonit will be easily crumbling ( Teknologi Bahan 1
Material science – and soil mech , 1984, PEDC books for student
in Politeknik Negeri Medan)

• at the natural moisture content, generally susceptible and

the effect of the system preservative is discussed
because could help the live service of the culms for more
than 600 years.
• Tanpa perawatan : apa yang tidak disukai pengguna??
• Several ornament could be seen on the
temples, a lot of foundation still intact,
because the red bricks still indicate
that there must be a an old site or it
was an ancient building.
• The materials to build a temple must be a priority using whole
the old people capability to use the best local composition to
build an important such as a temple or a secret worship area.
• The growing needs of society and people's confidence to help the
restoration, to use alternative materials or lately increased in
accordance with the demands of a growing community and need a
place to socialize a quiet and comfortable but
inexpensive. Certainly, the use of red bricks is using from thousands
years ago, the crumbling is back to nature as a soil.
• This can be seen with the adjustion of a simple
building with no walls and then artistically usefull
for temples by using redbricks.
• Red bricks is one of the elements for a building
in a construction, made of clay plus water with or
without water other mixtures through several
stages of workmanship such as digging,
processing, printing, drying, burning at high
tempratures until harden and not easily change
when immersed in water. *Ramli 2007)
 DISCUSSION.

• As implemented in accordance to the research

methodology, then the execution is not all went
smoothly. There are some technical
modifications.
 Then the sample was measured (separatelly)
Various soils that could comes either from the mountains to the valleys
hundreds years ago, while Bahal area might be bleaching to be a low
land such as Padang Lawas right now..
Traditional furnace in open earth
The limitation of the problem:
•
the test specimens were put separately either
in a rack or immers in water. After 24 hours
the samples aerated naturally, then the
absorption is measured by using scales.
Since the redbricks at least hours, totally
the experiment tooks places more than 4
days. The bricks in the wet state is difficult to
absorb the water naturally, as well as quite
that the force of the progress of diffusion of
water absorption in wet conditions did not
show any significant absorption.
that the Materials to build a temple must be in their
priority to build, using whole their capability to use
the local best composistion to builds the important
such as the ancient building
Mineralogy
in Portibi temple.
So that the Materials to build a temple must be in their priority to build, using whole their capability to use the local best com
the ancient building in Portibi temple. Plasticity Index. The plasticity index (PI) is a measure of the plasticity of a soil. The va
compressibility and very helpful in settlements of flexible and rigid pavement or foundations problem in civil engineering. In T
behaviour of soil for red bricks. For example the Plastic limit (PL) is determined by rolling out of a thread of the fine portion o
procedure is define in ASTM, but here we use it because to eleviate the effect of crack redbricks before baking time. This index
montmorilonit too much. The transisition from plastic to liquid as follows. Mitchell (1976)Durability and moisture resistanceMudbric
support for centuries, but they need protection from extreme weather ( e.g with deep eaves) or continuous maintenance. The ancient
continuously for centurious they have been standing. Although some soils are very resistance to weatherings, as a general rule redbr
should not be exposed to countinuous high moisture. Paul downton, 1988) shaw the snadard by Michel 1976.

Mineralogy Batas Cair Batas Plastis Batas Kerut

Montmorrillonit 100 _ 900 50 _ 100 8,5_ 15

Illite 60 _ 120 35 _ 60 15 _ 17

Kaolinite 30 - 110 25 - 40 25 - 29

Chlorite 44 - 47 36 - 40  
The plasticity index (PI) is a measure of the plasticity of a soil. The values of
the limits are used to show such of compressibility and very helpful in
settlements of flexible and rigid pavement or foundations problem in civil
engineering.
In This method, PI will be use to indicate the behaviour of soil for red bricks.
The Plastic limit (PL) test by rolling out small portion of clay on a flat non
porous surface. The procedure is define in ASTM, but here we use it because to
eleviate the effect of crack redbricks before baking time. This index also use to
indicate wether the soils have montmorilonit too much. The transisition from
plastic to liquid as follows. Mitchell (1976)Durability and moisture resistance
redbricks are suit enough for wall through years, but they need protection from
extreme weather otherwise needs continuous maintenance. Although some soils
are very resistance to weatherings, as a general rule redbricks needs protection
Mineralogy Batas Cair Batas Plastis Batas Kerut
from driving rain and should not be exposed to countinuous high moisture. Paul
downton, 1988)
Montmorrillonit 100 _ 900 50 _ 100 8,5_ 15

Illite 60 _ 120 35 _ 60 15 _ 17

Kaolinite 30 - 110 25 - 40 25 - 29

Chlorite 44 - 47 36 - 40  
• 3.1 Difficulties encountered
Several experiments was conducted in order to
obtain experimental data is difficult such as :
• 1. since Mud from the river while the vehicle is
not available and insufficient
• 2. The open earth as a traditional furnace and a
place to baked bricks can not be waiting for
longger than 24 hours. The fire should intens
adjust the temprature not less than 800o C
• This does not guarantee the quality of the
bricks will increase because this study was
only conducted totally for about less than 4
months, and the strength of the materials could
not be tested regularly. 
• The difficulties

• A. Montmorilonit mineral which usually found in

– clay cohesive soils couls swell and tensile shows
cracks subsequently develop before time to bake.
• B. soils with high percentage of montmorrilonit
– mineral lose cohesion upon saturation.
• C. Atterberg limit : test quantitatively described the
– effect of varying water content on the consistency of
fine grained soils .
• D.
Shrink and swell is important from stability
analysis stand point especially for red bricks
which have to be fulfill several steps before fire
without cracks.
 Conclusion
• Conclusion
• From the results of the above discussion it can be
concluded that the people may be burn the
redbricks in open space in order to have a
redbricks, and by avoiding the dirty mud they get a
quality fair red bricks in the sametime good enough
to carve.
• Soaking the soils in a lot of water also let the
redbricks have natural shrink before baking in the
oven might be the best way in order to prevent
shrink and cracks before being burned because
shrinkage limit is quite high about 8% to 12%.
Suggestions
Although the limitations of tools and techniques, the local people
in the past could still produce the best red brick from materials
nearby.
The proportions of soils to be red bricks still needs some fine sand
should be included in the further research. The original soil has
been submerged naturally the problem boundary arises because the
original soil of river mud and Padang Lawas area at present may be
much different from when they built in the past.
Fine sand is a big portion, considering the land area of ​Padang
Lawas formerly natural barren and naturally sandy. The mud area
where the streams containing clay mixed with fine sand have to be
smooth or less of cracking or brittle, in order to be best to be
Future Suggestion.
 Acknowledgments
• Thankyou very much for Chief of the comitee Dr. Agussalim M.
M.S., and the team of “The fourth Industrial Revolution :
Redesigning Education VI ”
• “ I would like to acknowledge to my family,
• Director of Politeknik Negeri Medan, Mr. Syahruddin M.T
especially the Research Programme Director,
• Mr. Benny Nasution. Also appreciation is extended to
• Mr. Mabrur, Mr. Sopar Parulian, Mr. Ferdinand Ginting, Mr Afdhal,
and Mr. Budi Damanik, those who work in The Laboratory,
• my collegues and friends who participated in my previous
research over years but were not listed here.
• Especially Mr. Samsudin Silaen M.T The Head Master of Civil
Engineering in Politechnic Negeri Medan who support this
research from beginning.
 REFERENCE
• Candi.perpusnas.go.id/temples/deskripsi-Sumatra-candi bahal
• SNI 15-2094-1991 Bata Merah Pejal mutu dan cara uji
• Ari Swastikawati, 2014., Standar Pengujian kualitas bata
pengganti, Balai konservasi peninggalan Borobudur.
Yogyakarta
• Das, B. M., 2010., Soil Mechanic
• Mitchell, J.K.,1976, Soil Properties
• Vincente., E. F., Torrealva., D. E., Mechanical properties of
adobe masonry of historical buildings in Peru, 2014. SAHC
2014-9TH International conference on Structural analysis of
historical contrusctions F.Pena & M.Chaves (Mexican City.
Mexico, 14-17 October 2014).
THANKYOU VERY MUCH.

AND MOST OF ALL,

THANKYOU
FOR YOUR DISTRIBUTION
TO THIS EARTH