Predicting the Freeze-Thaw Durability of Bricks Based on Residual Expansion

Abstract

The response of saturated brick masonry units to internal freezing water was studied in an attempt to improve the accuracy of freeze-thaw durability predictions currently described in ASTM C 67. Cryogenic dilatometry was employed to study the change in length, or response, of water-saturated brick during freeze-thaw cycles. In all cases, a permanent, or residual, expansion was observed. Residual expansion varied from approximately 0.01% to 0.08% for different commercially available brick for a single freeze-thaw cycle. No strong correlation was found between residual expansion and physical properties cited in current ASTM specifications. Research on lab-fired extruded brick showed that the amount of residual expansion is related to the “maturity,” or amount of “heat work” expended, in firing of the brick. Comparison of lab- and plant-fired brick with similar water adsorption values yielded considerable differences in residual expansion, reflecting a lack of correlation between physical properties and durability. Residual expansion may be a quantitative index reflecting the freeze-thaw durability of brick, and may result in a more definitive and faster test procedure than that described in ASTM C 67.

Characterization of Three Amu-Darya Basin Clays in Ceramic Brick Industry and Their Applications with Brick Waste

“…During the freeze–thaw cycle, water diffuses inside the pores, freezes at −5 °C, and the expansion of the brick specimens occurs. The expansion of water can occur up to 9% during the phase of liquid changing to a solid-state [ 67 ]. This process can cause damage or cracking if the pore volume of the specimens is less than the volume of the expanding water [ 68 ].…”

Towards Comparing Critical Degree of Moisture Saturation (SCrit) in Historic Brick Samples for Different Freezing Rates and Minimum Temperatures

“…Repeated freeze-thaw cycles resulted in increased cumulative damage, and the amount of total damage from a series of tests does not correlate to damage from a single freeze-thaw cycle (Seaverson, Brosnan, Frederic, & Sanders, 2002). While brick durability is influenced by a variety of factors, including porosity, pore size distribution, etc.…”

“…Seaverson et al did a study on freeze-thaw durability of clay bricks in 2003. The authors note that capillary action does not occur in pores larger than 10µm, therefore pores affected by freeze-thaw damage are less than 10 micrometers in diameter (Seaverson, Brosnan, Frederic, & Sanders, 2002). Freeze-thaw tests were conducted to determine the amount of strain experienced by the specimen.…”

“…Freeze-thaw tests were conducted to determine the amount of strain experienced by the specimen. The authors used a dilatometer to measure the specimen length during the test and found that as the brick samples go through the freeze-thaw cycles, they experience dilation upon freezing up to -4.1 o C and again upon thawing from the minimum freezing temperature (-15 o C) to just above 0 o C (Seaverson, Brosnan, Frederic, & Sanders, 2002).…”

“…; the authors note that it is not possible to accurately predict the amount of residual expansion based on material properties alone. (Seaverson, Brosnan, Frederic, & Sanders, 2002).…”