International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET), INTERNATIONAL JOURNALJuly- December (2012), ISSN 0976 6308 AND

D OF CIVIL ENGINEERING (Print), ISSN 0976 6316(Online) Volume 3, Issue 2, IAEME TECHNOLOGY (IJCIET)

ISSN 0976 6308 (Print) ISSN 0976 6316(Online) Volume 3, Issue 2, July- December (2012), pp. 380-386 IAEME: www.iaeme.com/ijciet.asp Journal Impact Factor (2012): 3.1861 (Calculated by GISI) www.jifactor.com

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BOND STRENGTH OF THE BRICK MASONRY

C.Freeda Christy1, R.Mercy Shanthi2 and D. Tensing3 School of Civil Engineering, Karunya University, Coimbatore-641114, Tamil Nadu, India

ABSTRACT This paper presents the experimental investigations of small burnt clay brick masonry samples. The shear bond strength has been obtained from 3 brick triplets. An experimental programme examining the bond strength of mortar-unit joints was therefore carried out, using mortars with and without pozzolans. It has been found that the strength and deformation characteristics of masonry constituents obtained from these tests are more representative of the actual composite behaviour of masonry. But, there is a need for energy efficient and environment friendly alternative materials for masonry. Fly ash blocks or bricks represent one such alternative for masonry applications. The deformation characteristics of individual brick and mortar have been determined and found to be different due to the composite action between the brick and mortar joint. The research quantified the differences in bond strengths achieved with various mortar/masonry unit combinations. Keywords: Bricks, bond, pozzalona, triplet INTRODUCTION Masonry is a material built with brick units and mortar. Behaviour of masonry greatly depends on the characteristics of masonry units, mortar and the bond between them. Bond strength is dependent on many interrelated factors that can directly affect bond development (e.g. unit surface absorption, pore structure, mortar composition, mortar water retentivity and curing conditions) or indirectly affect bond strength (e.g. unit surface texture and workmanship). It was also suggested that both mortar quality and surface absorption criteria of the masonry unit are the most significant parameters in developing good bond and bond strength, Goodwin and West (1982)1 and McGinley (1990)2. While the surface absorption characteristics define the rate and volume of water to move from the mortar to the unit and the quality of the mortar defines the amount of water available at the interface and the strength of hydration products deposited in the unit surface pores.

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International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET), ISSN 0976 6308 (Print), ISSN 0976 6316(Online) Volume 3, Issue 2, July- December (2012), IAEME

BRICKS Brick is a ceramic material mainly used in construction industry and it is one of the most important building materials. Its production process involves forming of clay into rectangular blocks of standard size, followed by firing to temperature ranging from 900 1200C. It is made of clay or shale and when given desired shape is dried and fired into a durable ceramic product. Energy consumption and pollution are the two important environmental and cost concerns related to the brick industry. Compressive strength of brick is important as an indicator of masonry strength and as a result brick strength has become an important requirement in brickwork design. Surface characteristics and suction are the most important properties in determining bond capability. Other durability indices have also been developed based on relationship of porosity and water absorption. (i) Major usage in the world for construction is clay bricks; many researchers are presently looking for newer options because they need low cost materials, which are also environmentally friendly. The process of manufacturing clay bricks also requires high energy to burn due to the emission of CO2 gas from this process. Fly ash, a waste industrial product is being used in cement and building material industries. The effect of brick absorption property due to variable raw materials used in its manufacturing was shown by Surej et al. (1998)3. The property of total absorption capacity of the brick is also very important for the performance of the brick. A high absorption results in vulnerability to volume changes that would result in cracking of the bricks and structural damage in buildings. It also would lead to cracking in the event of freezing and thawing of the water inside the pores. Too little absorption also not desired, because rain water rather than getting partially absorbed by the brick would tend to run off very quickly towards the joints and may find its way into the building as well as reduce the durability of the mortar joints. The absorption is the amount of water which is taken up from the mortar to fill pores in the clay brick. Water absorption tests were performed on fly ash bricks and clay bricks as per IS 3495 (1992)4. Water absorption of bricks is usually measured by 24 h cold immersion test allows water to be absorbed into pores, which are easily filled under cold condition where all pores are filled up with water. The average comparison of water absorption in the clay bricks and the fly ash bricks is shown in Fig.1.
Water absorption of bricks
15.0 10.0 5.0 0.0 Fly ash bricks Clay bricks

Fig.1 Comparison of water absorption in fly ash bricks and the clay bricks The water absorption of both clay brick and the fly ash brick were within the limit of 20% of its weight. The water absorption of the clay brick was observed as 13.7% higher than the fly ash brick. From the results, it was understood that fly ash brick has moderate level of water absorption behaviour and hence fly ash based construction may yield good structure performance.
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Water absorption of bricks in %

International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET), ISSN 0976 6308 (Print), ISSN 0976 6316(Online) Volume 3, Issue 2, July- December (2012), IAEME

INITIAL RATE OF ABSORPTION (IRA) The initial rate of absorption is of great importance for laying the bricks and bonding with the mortar. Mariarosa Raimondo (2009)5 reported that a high IRA results in too quick drying of the mortar and strung out for the bed joint and stiffens so rapidly that the bricks in the next course cannot be properly bedded and thus weakens the mortar and reduces its adherence to the brick. On the other hand, if the IRA is too low, the surface of the brick adjacent to the mortar would absorb the excess water and the bricks tend to float on the mortar bed, which makes it difficult to lay plumb walls at a reasonable rate and result in very weak layer of the mortar that would not have penetrated enough into the surface crevices and pores of the brick. In either case there will be poor bond. The bond between the brick and the mortar is largely influenced by the capacity of the brick to absorb water and the ability of the mortar to retain the water. This water is needed for the proper hydration of cement where the mortar contacts the brick. The power of a brick to absorb water is measured by the initial rate of absorption as per ASTM C 67 (2009)6. Masonry walls built using brick units with a low initial rate of absorption (IRA) often have lower bond strength than walls built with moderate IRA units because very little water is available to be absorbed into the unit during installation into the wall. Therefore, high absorption brick should be wetted prior (3 hrs to 24 hrs) to lying in order to reduce the absorption and allow the brick's surface to dry. Drysdale et al (1992)7 observed that if IRA is less than 0.25g/cm2/min, which is a case for low absorption bricks, then such bricks may tend to flow on mortar particularly if the bricks are damp. On the other hand if IRA is more than 1.5g/cm2/min a poor brick mortar bond may result because of rapid suction of water in mortar by bricks. The details of the initial rate of absorption experiment are indicated in Fig.2.

Fig. 2 Test on brick for initial rate of absorption The brick specimen is weighed as w1. Then the brick is placed into 1cm depth of water for 60 seconds. Finally, the brick is removed from water and weighed as w2. The initial rate of absorption (IRA) or suction is the rate of absorption of water in the first minute after contact of the bed surface with water. The IRA is calculated as, Initial Rate of Absorption (IRA) in (gram/cm2/ minute) = (w2 w1) / contact area ---- Eq 1 Excessive water suction in the brick can lead to considerable reduction in brick masonry strength, because bricks absorb excess amount of water from the mortar and thus interfere with complete hydration of the cement. In this experiment initial rate of absorption obtained for clay brick was 0.16g/cm2/min and for the fly ash brick was 0.63 g/cm2/min respectively. From the results, it was understood that the bond between the clay brick and the cement mortar is less when compared to the fly ash brick and the cement mortar. MORTAR MIX Mortar is used as a means of sticking or bonding bricks together and to take up all irregularities in the bricks. Although mortars form only a small proportion of a masonry wall as a whole, its characteristics have a large influence on the quality of the brick masonry. The
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International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET), ISSN 0976 6308 (Print), ISSN 0976 6316(Online) Volume 3, Issue 2, July- December (2012), IAEME

primary mechanism for the development of bond strength is cement hydration (the chemical action initiated when water is added to cement). High cement-content mortars are thus beneficial, as discussed by Samia Guirguis (2003)8 in which a considerably higher bond strength was achieved using a 1:1/4:3 (cement:lime:sand) mortar than when using a 1:1:6 mortar. Also discussed that the movement of fine particles (cementitious components and fine sand) towards the brick/mortar interface while the mortar is still fluid is extremely important in developing bond between the mortar and the masonry units. The utilization of fly ash as cement replacement material in mortar or as additive in cement introduces many benefits from economical, technical and environmental points of view as per Erdog Du (1998)9. The use of fly ash is accepted in recent years primarily due to saving of cement, consuming industrial waste and making durable materials, especially due to the improvement in the quality stabilization of fly ash, as stated by Li Yijin (2007)10. Fly ash is another type of pozzolanic material widely being used as a cement/fine aggregate replacement as reported by Rajamane (2007)11. Many researchers, viz. Rafat (2003)12 and Chaid et al (2004)13 indicated that low-calcium fly ash (class F) improves the interfacial zone microstructures. Portland cement hydrates to produce calcium hydroxide as much as 20% to 25% by weight. Joshi and Lohitia (1997)14 reported that, when the pozzolanic materials in the form of fly ash are added to the cements, the C-H of hydrated cement is consumed by the reactive SiO2 portion of these pozzolanas. This pozzolanic reaction improves the microstructure of cement composites as additional C-S-H gel is formed and also the pore size refinement of the hydrated cement occurs. BOND STRENGTH The function of mortar in masonry wall is to bind the individual bricks or blocks together to form a single element to resist the movement and stress; and (in external walls) provide as a weather proof barrier. The bond between the mortar and the masonry units is one of the most important properties of masonry construction, particularly when it is load bearing such as in low-rise buildings. The bond between the mortar and the masonry units is one of the most important properties of masonry construction. Poor bond and low bond strength is a major weakness of brickwork. This bond is affected by many interrelated factors associated with both masonry units and mortar. The mortar with partial replacement of fine aggregate with fly ash is varied (0%, 10% and 20%) and studied for the bond strength. The intent was to enhance the bond strength of the masonry by altering the microstructure of the mortar-unit interface. The shear characteristics of the brick masonry and the interfacial interaction parameters of brick/mortar joint were determined on masonry prism; by triplet prism test as reported by Sarangapani (2002)15. There are two types of bonds between the mortar and the brick units: chemical and friction. Tensile strength at the interface is primarily due to the chemical bond. Hence, the chemical bond depends upon the absorption rate of the brick units as reported by Reda Taha and Shrive (2002)16. Therefore, high absorption rate of the brick units decreases the strength of the bond. Thus, brick units are usually wetted with water before they are laid. The shear strength at the interface between the surface of mortar layer and the surface of the brick unit is by the friction and the chemical bond between the mortar and the brick units. The purpose for testing an assemblage of triplet brick prism is to determine the maximum bond-shear strength retained by the joint between the mortar and the brick. The bond shear strength is determined by testing a triplet specimen such that only shear stresses develop in between the mortar and the masonry unit contact planes as shown in Fig. 3.

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International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET), ISSN 0976 6308 (Print), ISSN 0976 6316(Online) Volume 3, Issue 2, July- December (2012), IAEME July

Fig. 3 Triplet bond test on brick masonry Bond strength of brick masonry triplet prisms was investigated in this test. The unreinforced triplet brick prisms of size 230mm x 220mm x 110mm were used in this study. The reinforced brick prisms were made with woven mesh at the bed joints of the brick masonry. The mortar used for the construction has the ratio of 1: 6 cement mortar mix with 0%, 10% and 20% replacement of fine aggregate with fly ash. The clay brick masonry (CBM) and the fly ash brick masonry (FBM) with partial replacement of fine aggregate with fly ash of (CBM10, CBM20, FBM10 and FBM20) were tested for both unreinforced and reinforced with woven wire mesh (CBMR, CBM10R, CBM20R, FBM, FBM10R and FBM20R). The shear strength was obtained from the triplet test as shown in Fig.3, where the brick in the re middle is sheared and the upper and lower bricks are supported. The vertical shear load (P (Pv) was applied at the uniform rate with a hydraulic jack until shear failure occurred. The masonry specimen is considered as a short beam subjected to an average bond stress and subjected evaluated as; Bond stress, b = Pv / 2A --------------- Eq 2 Where, Pv = Vertical compressive load in N; A = Cross sectional area of the triplet prism in mm2; mm The triplet shear prism detail with the breaking load and the bond stress (b) for various brick ) prisms are reported in Table 1. Table 1 Triplet shear prism detail Specimen Hexagonal wire Specimen dimension mesh (mm) CBM Unreinforced 250x220x110 CBM10 Unreinforced 250x220x110 CBM20 Unreinforced 250x220x110 CBMR Reinforced 250x220x110 CBM10R Reinforced 250x220x110 CBM20R Reinforced 250x220x110 FBM Unreinforced 250x220x110 FBM10 Unreinforced 250x220x110 FBM20 Unreinforced 250x220x110 FBMR Reinforced 250x220x110 FBM10R Reinforced 250x220x110 FBM20R Reinforced 250x220x110
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Breaking load (N) 3234 3498 4752 5742 5544 7260 11946 24948 20988 44946 72996 62964

Bond stre strength, (b) MPa 0.064 0.069 0.094 0.113 0.110 0.143 0.236 0.493 0.415 0.888 1.443 1.244

International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET), ISSN 0976 6308 (Print), ISSN 0976 6316(Online) Volume 3, Issue 2, July- December (2012), IAEME

The shearing load at failure is recorded as the maximum capacity of shear force retained by brick mortar bond. Lourenco (2004)17 reported that the shear strength of brick masonry along the bed joint is the function of the bond strength between the mortar and the brick units under zero compressive load. The comparison of bond stress of the brick masonry is depicted in Fig.4.

Bond strength on brick masonry

1.6 1.4 1.2 1.0 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.0 Bond strength, MPa
0% FA 10%FA 20% FA

CBM

CBMR

FBM

FBMR

Unreinforced and reinforced clay brick and fly ash brick masonry

Fig. 4 Bond strength of brick masonry From the results, it was found that the bond strength of reinforced clay brick masonry in the ratio of 1:6 cement mortar was increased to 43.68% than unreinforced clay brick masonry. Also, the bond strength of reinforced fly ash brick masonry in 1:6 cement mortar was increased to 73.42% than the unreinforced fly ash brick masonry. The clay brick masonry with 20% replacement of fine aggregate with fly ash in 1:6 cement mortar gave the higher bond strength. Further, the fly ash brick masonry with 10% replacement of fine aggregate with fly ash in the ratio of 1:6 cement mortar gave the higher bond strength as it react with the pozzalona to produce strong calcium silicate hydrates. Reda Taha and Shrive (2002)16 reported that the reactivity of the pozzolanas affects the interface bond development as the high reactive pozzolanas allow for early formation of the CSH gel and these strong hydrates will provide the mechanical interlock between the unit and the mortar enhancing the bond strength. CONCLUSIONS

Based on the triplet shear test, the presence of fly ash had a strong influence on the brick-mortar joint. The bond strength of unreinforced clay brick masonry in the ratio of 1:6 cement mortar with 20% replacement of fine aggregate with fly ash was 1.45 times more than the unreinforced clay brick masonry in the ratio of 1:6 cement mortar. The bond strength of reinforced clay brick masonry in the ratio of 1:6 cement mortar with 20% replacement of fine aggregate with fly ash was 1.5 times more than the unreinforced clay brick masonry. The bond strength of reinforced fly ash brick masonry in the ratio of 1:6 cement mortar with 10% replacement of fine aggregate with fly ash was twice than the unreinforced fly ash brick masonry. Incorporation of fly ash in the brick masonry resulted in the reaction of pozzolanas with the calcium hydrate which produced strong calcium silicate hydrates, thus enhancing the bond strength of the brick masonry with the modification of the microstructure of the mortar-brick unit interface.
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International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET), ISSN 0976 6308 (Print), ISSN 0976 6316(Online) Volume 3, Issue 2, July- December (2012), IAEME

REFERENCES 1. Goodwin, J.F. and West, W.H. (1982). A Review of the Literature on Brick/Mortar Bond, Proceedings of the British Ceramic Society, Vol. 30, No. 23, pp. 23-37 2. McGinley, W.M. (1990). IRA and The Flexural Bond Strength of Clay Brick Masonry, Masonry : Components to assemblages, Matthys, J.H., Ed., American Society for Testing and Materials, ASTM STP 1063, pp. 217-234 3. Surej Rk, Fazio P, Feldman D (1998). Development of new Durability Index For Clay Bricks, J. Architectural Eng., p. 87-93 4. IS 3495 : Part 1 to 4 : 1992 Methods of tests of burnt clay building bricks - Part 1 : Determination of compressive strength - Part 2 : Determination of water absorptionPart3 : Determination of efflorescence - Part 4 : Determination of warpage, Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi, India, 1992 5. Mariarosa Raimondo, Michele Dondi, Davide Gardini, Guia Guarini and Francesca Mazzanti, Predicting the initial rate of water absorption in clay bricks, Construction and Building Materials, Vol 23, 2009, p 2623 6. ASTM C- 67-09, Standard test method of sampling and testing brick and structural clay tile, ASTM standard, USA 2009 7. Drysdale R G, Hamid A A and Baker L R, Masonry structures behavior and design, Prentice Hall Inc. A Simon and Schuster Company, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1992, p 763 8. Samia Guirguis, July 2003, Masonry bond strength, Cement and concrete association of Australia, pp 1- 4 9. Erdog Du and Turker P, Effects of fly ash particle size on strength of portland cement fly ash mortars, Cement Concrete Research, Vol 28, 1998, p 1217 10. Li Yijin, Zhou Shiqiong, Yin Jian and Gao Yingli, International workshop on Development and Concrete Technology, The effect of fly ash on the fluidity of Cement paste, mortar, and concrete 2007, p 339 11. Rajamane N P, Annie Peter J and Ambily P S, Prediction of compressive strength of concrete with fly ash as sand replacement material Cement and Concrete Composites, Vol 29, 2007, p 218 12. Rafat Siddique, Effect of fine aggregate replacement with class F fly ash on the mechanical properties of concrete, Cement and Concrete Research, Vol 33, 2003, p 539 13. Chaid R, Jauberthie R and Rendell F, Influence of a natural pozzolana on the properties of high performance mortar, Indian Concrete Journal, 2004, p 22 14. Joshi R C and Lohitia R P, Advances in concrete Technology, edited by Malhotra, Gordon and Breach Science Publishers, Netherlands, 1997, p 24 15. Sarangapani G, Venkatarama Reddy B V and Jagadish K S, Structural characteristics of bricks, mortars and masonry, Journal of Structural Engineering, Vol 29, No 2, July 2002, p 101 16. Reda Taha M M and Shrive N G, The use of pozzalons to improve bond and bond strength 9th Canadian Masonry Symposium, 2002 17. Lourenco P B, Barros J O and Oliveira J T, Shear testing of stack bonded masonry, Construction and Building Materials, Vol 18, 2004, p 125

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