STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY

NAME OF EXPERIMENT: Tests on bricks

(a) Determination of compressive strength

(b) Determination of water absorption capacity as per

IS 3495 (Part 1, 2):1992

NAME: Rashmiranjan Si

ROLL NUMBER: 716CE3008

DATE OF EXPERIMENT: 22-01-2019

DATE OF REPORT: 29-01-2019

OBJECTIVE: (A) Determination of compressive strength of fly ash brick as per IS

3495(Part 1):1992.

RESULTS:

TABLE-1
Samples Length Breath Area of Length Breath of Area of Average
of upper of upper upper of lower lower lower area,
surface, surface, surface surface, surface, surface, (A1+A2)/2
L1 B1 L1*B1=A1 L2 B2 L2*B2=A2
(in mm) (in mm) (in mm2) (in mm) (in mm) (in mm2) (in mm2)

Brick-1 229 109 24961 229 110 25190 25075.5

Brick-2 230 110 25300 228 110 25080 25190.0

Brick-3 229 109 24961 228 109 24852 24906.5

TABLE-2
Sample Failure load, P Average area, A Compressive strength, P/A

(in N) ( in mm2) ( in N/mm2)

Brick-1 186390 25075.5 7.433

Brick-2 117720 25190.0 4.673

Brick-3 147150 24906.5 5.908

The compressive strength of bricks is reported as => (7.433+4.673+5.908)/3 = 6.00 N/mm2

DISCUSSIONS:

 The observed compressive strengths of individual brick samples are not so much

discrete.

 As per IS 12894:2002 the given sample of bricks are designated as class 5, because the

average compressive strength of brick samples is above 5 N/mm2 and below 7.5

N/mm2 and individual brick’s compressive strength is not less than the minimum

average weight compressive strength by more than 20%.

 Due to some unavoidable errors like personal error, Instrumental error the results may

vary slightly if it would be tested again.

 A specific type of failure pattern is observed in each sample during compression test.

Failure initiates from every sides of bricks which leads failure of sample.
OBJECTIVE:(B) Determination of water absorption capacity of fly ash brick as per

IS 3495(part 2):1992.

RESULTS:

Samples Dry mass, M1 SSD mass, M2 Water absorption,

( in Kg) (in Kg) ((M2-M1)/M1)*100 (in %)

Brick-1 2.88 3.48 20.83

Brick-2 2.82 3.42 21.27

Brick-3 2.86 3.39 18.53

The water absorption capacity of bricks reported as => (20.83+21.27+18.53)/3 = 20.21%

DISCUSSIONS:

 With increase in temperature of water, the density of water decreases which leads to

more absorption of water and vice-versa. Code recommends to immerse brick sample in

water maintaining a temperature of 270 + or – 20. But due to unavailability of water

bath, samples were kept in water which is in lower temperature than room

temperature. Hence the observed value may be lower than actual value.

 As per IS 12894:2002, the average water absorption should not exceed 20% by mass up

to class 12.5. From compressive strength test it is found that the class of sample is 5; But

the average water absorption capacity is 20.21%. May be this result is due to

manufacturing defect.