Optimization of the strength properties of clay masonry bricks

»1 Effect of different mixes on the material properties of the brick body

»2 Starting perforation pattern (left) and the “optimum” perforation pattern (right) determined by means of simulation

Research project conducted by the Research Alliance of the Clay Brick and Tile Industry Regd. (FGZ)
Project number
AiF 15253 N
Project funded by
BMWi through the German Federation of Industrial Research Associations “Otto von Guericke” Regd. (AiF)
Implemented by
Brick Research Institute Essen Regd. (IZF), ibac Aachen
Project manager
Dipl.-Ing. Michael Ruppik

1 Introduction and objective

The shear loading capacity of stiffening masonry walls is playing an increasingly important role in the realization of construction projects. Current developments, especially in the construction of terraced houses, with regard to an optimization of the useful area of buildings are leading to a minimization of the wall elements. These are often regarded as “troublesome” by architects and building owners, yet they are absolutely essential for the reinforcement of the bearing structure. On the other hand, in the scope of the revision of the standards concerning influences on the bearing structure, the applied horizontal loads resulting from wind and earthquakes have been increased significantly. At the same time, fiercer competition in the construction industry and the application of more rational construction methods have heightened competition between the materials used, leading to maximized utilization of the building materials used. As a result of this, the strength properties of a clay masonry brick are becoming increasingly important.

A sub-objective of the research project is to improve the strength properties of clay masonry bricks and accordingly the load-bearing capacity of the masonry, especially the shear strength. In this process, the known, important structural-physical properties are not to be significantly changed or adversely affected.

On the one hand, optimization is to be achieved with raw-materials- and production-based measures. On the other hand, based on the development of a realistic material model (material laws) for the numerical simulation of the load-bearing behaviour of masonry built with clay bricks, an optimization of the perforation structure is planned. The starting variables necessary for this (including the fracture behaviour) are to be determined as accurately as possible in small-scale tests.

In a concluding test of the compressive and shear strength on storey-high masonry walls, it is to be established whether higher shear loading strength can be realized with use of material-optimized masonry bricks (optimized body) in stiffening walls.

2 Findings and conclusions

With the raw-materials- and processing-based measures for the optimization of the material properties, and allowing for the different body densities, an increase in the strength of the brick body can be expected, which can be quantified as a 30% improvement on the starting situation under compressive, flexural and tensile load. Here both the use of inorganic poreformers (lightweight additive) that, owing to their composition, participate actively in the body formation and the strength-increasing sintering processes, as well as of early-sintering clays external clays with a high clay mineral content are conducive to the objective (»1).

For optimization of the perforation structure, first small specimens are tested and the material laws of brick bodies determined, especially the fracture behaviour. These are implemented in a finite element model and on this basis the masonry bricks are modelled with three-dimensional continuum elements. In comparison with small-scale tests on masonry bricks, for the compressive load, there is a very good agreement between the test result and numerical simulation. In contrast, for the tensile loading, there results a considerable over-estimation of the test results on account of inhomogeneities not considered in the model. With the determined material laws, the perforation pattern geometry of the masonry bricks is optimized based on the numerical analysis of the compressive and tensile load bearing behaviour. »2 shows the starting perforation pattern (left) and the optimized perforation pattern (right).

Parallel to the optimization of the perforation geometry, a material-optimized brick is produced in the brick plant. The comparatively higher mechanical loadability of the body determined on laboratory scale is confirmed with original bricks from an optimized mix M3 after testing of the compressive strength in the defined order of magnitude. Following the concluding testing of the compressive and shear load-bearing capacity on storey-high masonry walls, the following can be established: the optimized brick body shows an increased crack tendency in firing, which necessitates additional optimization of the brickmaking process. If this optimization is realized, a discernible influence can be expected in respect of the shear loading capacity of storey-high masonry walls too.

This project of the Research Alliance of the Clay Brick and Tile Industry Regd (FGZ) was funded under the project number AiF 15253 N by the BMWi through the German Federation of Industrial Research Associations “Otto von Guericke” Regd (AiF). It was realized by the Brick Research Institute Essen Regd (IZF), in collaboration with ibac, RWTH University of Aachen. The final report is 152 pages long and available for a handling fee from the Research Alliance of the Clay Brick and Tile Industry Regd in Berlin.

Optimization of the strength properties of clay masonry bricks

1 Introduction and objective

2 Findings and conclusions

Related articles:

Theoretical and empirical studies on the shear loading capacity of clay brick masonry

Combined load-bearing behaviour of non-reinforced and reinforced masonry elements constructed with clay masonry blocks filled with standard concrete

Energy-conserving method for obtaining highly porous structures in brick clay

Developments in the recycling of clay bricks and brick masonry (Part 2)

Reducing energy expenditures for brick production by use of vibrating cutters

1 Introduction and objective

2 Findings and conclusions

ZI 7-8/2012

ZI 7-8/2012

Related articles:

Theoretical and empirical studies on the shear loading capacity of clay brick masonry

Combined load-bearing behaviour of non-reinforced and reinforced masonry elements constructed with clay masonry blocks filled with standard concrete

Energy-conserving method for obtaining highly porous structures in brick clay

Developments in the recycling of clay bricks and brick masonry (Part 2)

Reducing energy expenditures for brick production by use of vibrating cutters