A case study on mineralogy and physico-mechanical properties of commercial bricks produced in Nepal

Abstract

Uses of clay brick have practiced since ancient times in the Kathmandu valley of Nepal as structural materials for the construction of historical monuments, temples, and even modern buildings so on. However, their durability and sustainability properties are less studied scientifically in Nepal. Taking into consideration, analysis of mineralogical phases and physico-mechanical properties of modern clay bricks of Nepal was carried out using X-ray powder diffraction as well as Fourier transform infra-red techniques, and American Standards for Testing Materials standards, respectively. Quartz, feldspars, alumina-rich spinel, muscovite, primary mullite, and hematite are constituent in the bricks. Appearance of the spinel and primary mullite phases in burnt brick samples with diminishing feldspar peaks were to be different, indicating that the temperature applied for the making of these clay bricks presumed to be between 900 and 1050 °C. All the commercially used contemporary brick samples analyzed herein could be of II and III classes based on the estimated physical and mechanical properties. They showed the water absorption capacity (W AC ), apparent porosity (P A ), bulk density (D B ), and compressive strength (S C ) in the range of 5-30%, 10-40%, 1.1-2.15 g/cm 3 , and 3.35-10.53 MPa, respectively, and these properties have a reasonable correlation. The S C is to be decreased exponentially with increasing both the W AC and P A and increased exponentially with D B .

Strength Characteristics, Ultrasonic Wave Velocity, and the Correlation between Them in Clay Bricks under Dry and Saturated Conditions

“…However, the Vp of the saturated samples showed values between 1666 and 2232 m/s. Based on previous studies, the bricks have a wide variation in their constituent mineral types and contents, physical characteristics (especially porosity), and pore size distribution [ 53 ], which strongly affect the Vp. As a result, Vp values of the bricks vary in a wide range.…”

Quality assessment of bricks produced in Chitwan District, central Nepal

“…The compressive strength of 33 brick samples from the Bhaktapur District ranges from 7.83 MPa to 22.10 MPa (Shrestha, 2019). The compressive strength of 49 brick samples of 17 grades was reported to range from 3.35 to 10.53 MPa (Chapagain, 2020). On seven Kathmandu brick samples, the compressive strength ranged from 5 to 23 MPa (Bhattarai et al, 2018).…”

“…According to Shrestha (2019), the apparent porosity value is between 19.28 and 53.99%. According to Chapagain (2020), the test findings show an apparent porosity at between 10% and 40%. Similar to this, Bhattarai et al (2018) demonstrated that the test result fell between 17 to 33%.…”

“…Hematite was observed at 24. The mineralogical investigation on six brick samples CAB-5, RCB-4, BRB-3, CCB-7, BSB-11, and NTB-17 identified quartz, feldspar, spinel, primary mullite, hematite, and mica mineral muscovite as phase minerals (Chapagain et al, 2020).…”

Derivation of Empirical Relationships to Predict Cambodian Masonry Strength

“…Another physical property for the compressive strength difference is density. Solid brick density is almost twice the density of hollow brick, and there is a direct relationship between the density and compressive strength of the units [ 44 ]. The type of production and burning temperature are two factors affecting the compressive strength in production technology.…”