Improved testing procedures to assess the physical and mechanical properties of ceramic blocks

ABSTRACT

In Brazil, ceramic blocks have a significant share of the masonry construction market. Thus, an experimental testing program was devised to determine the physical and mechanical properties of ceramic blocks from different regions of Brazil. The experimental program included blocks from five Brazilian states and ten different producers, and the properties studied were absorption, material density, efflorescence, abrasion, compressive strength, and resistance towet-dry cycles. The purpose of determining these material properties is to set guidelines to standardize the performance of same-geometry blocks. The material density test method and the wet- and dry cycle test method are being proposed as new tests and are not usually specified in international codes. The objective of the wet and dry cycle test is to determine a durability parameter for blocks that are not subjected to freeze-thaw cycles. The analysis of the results identified important relationship between these properties.

Keywords
masonry; clay; ceramic blocks; test in blocks