The document summarizes the evolution of brick as a building material from ancient times to modern times. It discusses how bricks were first used in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, made of sun-dried mud. The Mesopotamians developed stronger bricks by baking mud bricks mixed with straw in kilns. Later, the Chinese, Romans, British, and Americans improved brick construction technology and the properties of bricks for increased strength, durability, and use in new building typologies. Bricks evolved from a purely load-bearing building material to also being used for their aesthetic and acoustic properties. Modern composite construction methods allow for the use of bricks in high-rise buildings.

2. EVOLUTION OF BRICK AS A BUILDING MATERIAL

3. Bricks first appeared around 7000 bc in catal huyuk in egypt which were sun dried mud bricks with clay and straw

4. Mesopotamian Brick Kilns
The Mesopotamians developed stronger
bricks by mixing the mud with straw and then
baking the result in kilns. This process
also made the bricks more resistant to
water.
Bricks baked in kilns were also lighter and
easier to transport than stone. Because they
were also stronger they could be stacked,
loaded and carried from the place where
they were made to the place where they
were to be used much more easily and
without breaking them

5. BRICK USE IN CHINA
Chinese used sun dried mud bricks initially for the
construction of the great wall as the material was
available everywhere and could not carry stones.
Soon the wall collapsed due to lack of strength and
gave into the tough climatic conditions
They improved the construction technology by using
kilns to burn the clay bricks hence increasing their
strength, which still remains today, which finished around
1644 which stretches around 4000 miles

6. BRICK USE IN ROME
1. Romans used the bricks in a pure compressive manner hence understanding their nature, by using them in an arch
2. They filled in concrete between 2 brick faces hence using a composite wall construction technology
3. The brick was evolving from being a load bearing member to an aesthetic element
4. Their bricks were like that of brick tiles thin and long

8. USE OF BRICKS IN GREAT BRITAIN
1. In response to the great fire of london,
the law was passed for all new
constructions to use fireproof
materials
2. This led to innovations in the brick
construction technology
3. Evolution of brick from square
shape to rectangular take place for
stronger bonding
4. The dimensions of the brick were
made so as to facilitate handling
for faster construction

9. 1. The introduction of railways led to
construction of bridges in england
2. Bricks were used initially, but were
degraded due to the lateral forces of train
vibrations
3. The mortar gets loosen and the bricks
loose their bonding
4. This led to improve in technology and
introduction of engineered bricks
5. These bricks were less porous and as they were mechanically compressed and were
stronger
6. The viaducts were used in order to use the least material while spanning the distances

10. In Victorian London, due to the heavy
fog, bright red bricks were chosen
which made buildings much more
visible. Although the amount of red
pigment was reduced in bricks
production, red remained the most
desired colour for the brick and still
does to this day

11. USE OF BRICKS IN USA
1. In response to fires in
chicago, focus was made on
fireproof materials
2. With introduction of
elevators, high rise structure
were built
3. Monadnock was built in 1894
as a high rise (16 floors)
brick structure
4. Walls were made thick to
resist lateral forces
5. Structure became too
massive and started to sink
6. Hence, brick was not an
ideal building material for
high rise structures
7. A new addition was added to
the building having steel
frame inside with brick face
outside, this led to a lighter
structure that could take
lateral forces

12. THE FUTURE OF BRICK AS A BUILDING MATERIAL
● Bricks were identified not to be the ideal to be the only
load bearing structure in high rise structures
● Composite building methods like using them with steel
framing became popular for high rise structures
● Though bricks still continue to be used because of their
time timelessness quality of aesthetic appeal, hence
used as facade material in structures supported by steel
framing

13. Application of brick in construction
Uses of bricks can be seen in a building as-
1.structural unit 2.aesthetic units

14. USES
AS A STRUCTURAL UNIT
• As a Structural Unit Since the clay bricks or burnt
bricks are strong, hard, durable, resistive to abrasion
and fire, therefore, they are used as a structural material
in different structures:-
1.Buildings,2.Bridges,3.Foundations,4.Arches,5.Paveme
nt & Footpath, 6. Roads, 7. Drains, 8, Tunnels, 9.
Boundary Walls etc.

15. Example
load bearing structures Brick arches

16. • As an Aesthetic Unit/Surface Finish
Bricks of different colors,as brick
jalis sizes and orientations are used
to get different surface designs. As an
aesthetic material bricks are used in
Landscaping, as Facing Brick, as a Fire
Resistant Material.
AS AN AESTHETIC UNIT

17. Example
Use of brics as a facade in building

18. • Bricks in the metallurgy and glass industries
are often used for lining furnaces.
• Manufacture of surkhi (powder bricks).
• Construction of brick retaining wall.
others

19. PROPERTIES
• The following are the required
properties of good bricks:
1)A good brick should be able to
resist the effects of weathering
agencies like temperature, rain, etc.
2) Colour: Colour should be
uniform and bright.
3)Shape: Bricks should have plane
faces. They should have sharp and
true right angled comers and
uniform in shape.
4)Size: Bricks should be of standard
sizes as prescribed by codes.
5)Texture: They should possess fine,
dense and uniform texture. They
should not possess fissures, cavities,
loose grit and unburnt lime.
6)Soundness: When struck with
hammer or with another brick. it
should produce metallic ringing
sound.

20. 7)Hardness: The bricks should be sufficiently hard
finger nail scratching should not produce any
impression on the brick.
8)Strength: Crushing strength of brick should not
be less than 3.5 n/mm2. A field test for strength is
that when dropped from a height of 0.9 m to 1.0 mm
on a hard ground, the brick should not break into
pieces.
9)Water Absorption: After immersing the brick in water
for 24 hours, water absorption should not be more
than 20% by weight for class-I, bricks and 22 % by
weight for second class bricks.
10)Efflorescence: Bricks should not show whit patches when soaked in
water for 24 hours and then allowed to dry in shade.
11)Thermal Conductivity: Bricks should have low thermal conductivity, to that
buildings built with them are cool in summer and warm in winter.
12)Sound Insulation: Heavier bricks are poor insulators of sound while light
weight and hollow bricks provide good sound insulation.
13)Fire Resistance: Fire resistance of bricks is usually good. In fact bricks
are used to encase steel columns to protect them from fire.

21. ADVANTAGES
1. Because Clay Brick is naturally energy efficient-Brick is a building material that
has exceptional thermal mass. properties i.e. the ability to store heat and then
slowly release it. During the summer months brick home stays cool during the
hottest pat, of the day. During the winter, brick walls store home's heat and radiate
it back. Produces less environmental pollution during manufacturing process
2. Clay brick is the most sustainable green building material having countless
Recycling Options. Brick can be salvaged. crushed brick for sub-base material,
and chipped brick for permanent landscaping mulch. 1
3. Brick offers lasting value. It doesn't rot. dent.. or be eaten by termites.
4. Brick absorb noise. giving it an acoustic advantage over other materials

22. 5. Brickwork needs only the masons whereas the concrete ( Reinforced cement
concrete needs. carpenters , fitters and masons apart from centering shuttering .
staging material.
6. It is easy to alter/modify a brick wall than a concrete element.
7. Demolishing of brick structure. is very easy. less time consuming and hence
economic. Economical (Raw material is easily available).
8. its Hard and durable & Highly fire resistant.
9. Compressive strength is good enough for ordinary construction.
10. Different orientations and sizes give different surface textures
11. Scrap value Reusable and Recyclable. Brick pieces. ( brick bats ) can be used in
filling sunk portions or for creating slopes for terrace waterproofing or for soak pits
12. Brick are cheaper and lighter than normal concrete as well as RCC. which enable
a lesser dead load of the entire structure. This results in economical design of
structure including the foundations.
.

23. DISADVANTAGES OF BRICKS
1. Time consuming construction •
2. Cannot be used in high seismic zones •
3. Very less tensile strength •
4. Since bricks absorbs water easily, therefore it causes
fluorescence when not exposed to air
5. Rough surfaces of bricks may cause mould growth if not
properly cleaned
6. Cannot be used as sole construction material in high
rise structures

24. Preparation of brick

25. Preparation of brick earth
Removal of loose soil:
• About 30 cm depth contains a lot of impurities like organic
matter and hence
• it should be taken out and thrown away.
Digging, spreading and cleaning:
The earth is then dug out from the ground.
• This earth is spread into heaps about 50 to 150 cm height.
Weathering:
• The earth is then exposed to atmosphere for softening.
• The period may be Of few weeks to a season.
the clay brick is made of also determines the properties like
hardness, compressive strength, toughness and color

26. Moulding
Hand moulding
• when the moulding is done with hand it is
called hand moulding
• A wooden rectangle mould made in shape of
brick is usually used for the purpose
Machine Moulding
• the clay is placed in the machine, it come out
through the machine under pressure. It is cut to
brick by steel wire fixed into frames

27. Drying of bricks
Most of the water is evaporated in drying
chamber.
Temperature is about 100 9F TO 400 °F (38 9C
TO 204 CC).
Time, is between 24 to 48 hours.

28. Burning of bricks
Bricks are burned at high temperature to gain
the strength, durability, density and red colour
appearance.
Temperature used for baking the briks is
600-1100 degrees
If burnt at higher temperature, the clay melts and
if not burnt properly it is very brittle and lacks
strength

29. Classification of bricks
On the basis of quality, Bricks are of the following kinds:
First Class Bricks
These are the best quality bricks and are thoroughly burnt
and are of deep red, cherry or copper colour.
Second Class Bricks
These are supposed to have the same requirements as the
first class ones except that small cracks and distortions are
permitted.
Third Class Bricks
They are soft and light-coloured producing a dull sound when struck
against each other. Water absorption is about 25 percent of dry
weight.

30. Types of bricks
Common burnt
clay bricks
Sand lime bricks Engineering
bricks
Concrete bricks
Fly ash clay bricks

31. Thank you