Development of New Durability Index for Clay Bricks

Abstract

The use of an index to evaluate the durability of bricks has advantages over the conventional method based on the physical requirements and test procedures given in standards. An earlier study by the writers showed that the existing durability indices for clay bricks had limitations in reliably assessing durability. In that study, an index based on the pore properties of bricks, suggested by Maage, was found to have advantages over the other indices for evaluating durability. But the experimental study by the writers concluded that, in the case of certain bricks, Maage's index might not give a true measure of the frost resistance. In order to overcome its limitations, an “apparent pore size distribution” concept is suggested in this study. Correlations between the pore properties and the water absorption properties were studied, and a new durability index was derived by incorporating the water absorption properties in Maage's equation. The new index was found to overcome the limitations of Maage's index and was validated against another set of bricks.