Proposition of a Clay Brick with Reduced Thickness and High Fire Resistance by Means of Numerical and Experimental Analysis

Abstract

Clay brick masonry is a construction system used worldwide due to its economy and technical viability. While its behavior when subjected to high temperatures is relatively well known, civilian construction has evolved and introduced lighter and more slender elements with no assessment of the potential decrease in performance. This study sought to develop a clay brick masonry system of reduced thickness and high fire resistance. In order to accomplish this objective, heat transfer in bricks of different geometries was analyzed with a finite element numerical model calibrated with experimental data. A wall sample was constructed in real scale with the optimum geometry obtained from the numerical analysis and evaluated experimentally. Results showed a satisfactory agreement between the model and experimental wall sample and produced a possible nonload-bearing compartmentalization system of reduced thickness with a 180 min fire resistance rating.