EXPERIMENT MAS 1

COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF BRICK

1.0 Abstract

Each brick have its own strength. All brick do not have an equal or similar
strength to each other. Compressive strength is also known as compression
strength. Compressive strength is the capacity of a material or structure to
withstand loads tending to reduce size, as opposed to tensile strength, which
withstand loads tending to elongate. The objective of this experiment is to
determine the compressive strength of brick sample. By conducting this
experiment, we can obtain the strength of the brick. In this experiment there are
a few methods that have been used. The first one, this experiment involve drying
method. Before we use the specimen which is the brick, we have to dry it first at
100oC for 24 hours by using drying oven. Next methods are cooling method. After
the drying process is done, the brick will be cooled for 4 hours. After that, the
brick are ready to use for the experiment. Brick specimen is capped with sulphur
before it is being tested by the universal testing machine to obtain the
compressive strength of the brick. To get the result of this experiment the data
that we need are the maximum load that we are used and the average of the
gross area of upper and lower bearing surfaces of the specimen. After getting all
this data, the result for the compressive strength of the brick can be determined
by doing the calculation by using the formula given. The formula are
compressive strength = W (maximum load) / A (average of the gross area of the
upper and lower bearing surfaces of the specimen. The conclusion is by
conducting this experiment, we will know that each of bricks have its own
compressive strength. By conducting this experiment, we will obtained the
compressive strength of the brick.
2.0 Introduction

Bricks is defined as a masonry unit with the dimensions (in mm) not
exceeding 337.5 x 225 x 112.5 (length x width x depth). Any unit with exceeded
dimension with respect to this specification will be termed as a block (Hendry et
al., 2004). Bricks can be classified into several types depending on their usage
and properties such as common bricks, facing bricks, concrete bricks,
engineering bricks, semi-engineering bricks, and etc.

In this experiment, the first thing that we have to do, we take the
measurement of bricks dimension at the top and the bottom. After that, the
brick will be cap with sulphur (thickness of cap about in.) capping is the
preparation of the ends of cylindrical concrete specimens to ensure that a test
cylinder or core has smooth, parallel, uniform bearing surfaces that are
perpendicular to the applied axial load during compressive strength testing. Most
common method for end preparation of compressive strength test specimens is
to use bonded sulphur mortar cap. This step is to ensure that the compressive
load applied evenly and consistently for every strength test. Next, allow the cap
to cool for a minimum of 2 hours. After that, test the specimen flatwise. Next,
apply the load continuously so that the failure takes place within 2 to 3 minutes.
Lastly, take all the results and data and calculate the compressive strength by
using the given formula.

Based on this experiment there are a few things that we have to do, such
as drying method and cap specimen with sulphur. For the drying method, we are
doing this method because we want to make sure the brick did not contain any
moisture and totally dry. After that, we used the sulphur because we want to
make sure the specimen will be compressed by the load evenly.

3.0 Definition
Brick is defined as a small, hard block of baked clay that is used to build
structures (such as houses) and sometimes to make street, paths, etc. Brick is a
small rectangular block with dimensions (in mm) not exceeding 337.5 x 225 x
112.5 (length x width x depth) typically made of fired or sun-dried clay.
Compressive Strength is the capacity of a material or structure to withstand
axially directed pushing forces (Somayaji, 2001).

4.0 Objective
 The compressive strength of the brick samples was determined.

5.0 Apparatus
Universal testing machine, drying oven, capping pot and mold.

6.0 Sample
1. Half size dry unit (dried at 110 oC for 24 hours and cooled for 4 hours). The
length of the specimen is one-half the full length of the unit.
2. Sulphur

7.0 Procedure
1. The dimensions at the top and bottom of the specimen are measured and
recorded.
2. The specimen is capped with sulphur with caps thickness of about a
quarter or inch.
3. The cap is allowed to cool for a minimum of 2 hours.
4. The specimen flatwise was tested (load was applied in the direction of the
depth of the brick).
5. The load is applied continuously within 2 to 3 minutes until the bricks
failed (cracked).
6. The maximum load applied for the failure of the brick to take place is
recorded.
7. The compressive strength is calculated as:
W
Compressive strength=
A

Where W = maximum load

A = average of the gross area of the upper and lower bearing surfaces of
the specimen

8.0 Result and Calculation

The dimensions of the brick specimen are measured and recorded as shown in
Table 1.
Surface Length (m) Width (m) Area
of (m2)
specime
n
Upper l1 l2 l3 Averag d1 d2 d3 Averag A1
 e e
0.09 0.09 0.09 0.096 0.09 0.09 0.09 0.098 0.0094
6 6 6 8 8 8 08
Lower l1 l2 l3 Averag d1 d2 d3 Averag A2
e e
0.09 0.09 0.09 0.096 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.101 0.0096
6 6 6 1 1 1 96
Table 1: Dimensions of the specimen

l 1 +l 2 +l 3 d 1 +d 2 +d 3
Average = or Average =
2 2

Area of upper surface, A1 = average length x average width

Area of lower surface, A2 = average length x average width
W
Compressive strength = A where W = maximum load

A = average of the gross area of the upper and

lower bearing surfaces of the specimen
A

2
A= 1+ A

Calculation:
Area of upper surface, A1 = 0.096 m x 0.098 m
= 0.009408 m2
Area of lower surface, A2 = 0.096 m x 0.101 m
= 0.009696 m2
0.009408+ 0.009696
Average gross area, A = 2

= 0.009552 m2
Hence, the average gross area of the upper and lower surfaces of the brick
specimen is 0.009552 m2.
The maximum load that can be withstand by the brick specimen using the
universal testing machine is 186.300kN. By using the formula of compressive
strength, the compressive strength of the brick specimen can be calculated as
shown below.

186.300 kN
Compressive strength=
0.009552 m2

= 19503.74 kN / m2
= 19503.74kPa
Hence, the compressive strength of the brick specimen is 19503.74kPa.

9.0 Discussion
Compressive strength of the brick is the resistance to the maximum load per unit
area of the brick. The specimen has an average gross area of 0.009552m 2 is
cracked when the load applied by the universal testing machine has reached
186.300kN which is the maximum load. From the compressive strength formula,
the compressive strength of the brick can be calculated which is 18.630 MPa. The
compressive strength obtained may contain some error due to the uneven
surface of the brick because it is break into one-half of the full length of the unit.
This is because the uneven surface of the brick will caused the non-uniform
distribution of the load on the bricks. However, there is some precaution can be
done in order to minimise the error that will happened during the progress of the
experiment.

1. Removing the uneven surface of the brick or filling and flatting the surface of
the brick by using sulphur or cement powder.
2. The brick should be placed at the centre of the loading area to reduce the
possibility of premature failure of the brick.
3. Use the brush to remove the bricks from the drying oven.
4. The position of eye must e perpendicular to the scale of the measuring tape
in order to prevent parallel error.

10.0 Conclusion
The compressive strength of the brick specimen is 6.725 MPa.

11.0 References
 Hendry, A.W., Sinha, B.P. and Davies, S.R., 2004. Design of Masonry
Structures. 3rd ed. Delhi, India: Tata McGraw Hill.

Somayaji, S. 2001. Civil Engineering Materials. United States of America:

Prentice Hall.

Appendices

Figure 1: Length and width of top and bottom part of brick.

Figure 2: Result of the compressive strength of the brick by using universal
testing machine.