ISSN: 0090-3973
Page Count: 5

Predicting the Durability of Bricks

Winslow, DN
School of Civil Engineering, Purdue University,IN,

Kilgour, CL
School of Civil Engineering, Iowa State University,IA,

Crooks, RW
Arsee Engineers,IN,

(Received 8 December 1987; accepted 27 May 1988)

Abstract

The pore size distributions of approximately 80 bricks removed from walls of existing buildings were measured using mercury intrusion. These distributions were used to calculate a Durability Factor using the method of Maage. This Durability Factor was then correlated with the observed performance of the bricks on the buildings. It was found that all bricks with a Durability Factor greater than 70 exhibited no freeze/thaw durability problems. Further, with very few exceptions, all bricks with a Durability Factor less than 70 were suffering freeze/thaw failures. This technique is more accurate and faster for selecting potentially durable bricks than the current use of absorption measurements.

Keywords:
bricks, durability, durability testing, pore structure, absorption

Paper ID: JTE11271J
DOI: 10.1520/JTE11271J
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