ELASTIC BEHAVIOR AND CREEP OF REFRACTORY BRICK UNDER TENSILE AND COMPRESSIVE LOADS*

Abstract

AbstractSpecimens cut from 9‐in, brick of nine brands of firebrick, including two high‐alumina, four fire‐clay, two siliceous fire‐clay, and one silica, were subjected to tensile and compressive creep tests at eleven temperatures from 25° to 950°C., inclusive. The duration of each test was approximately 240 days. Small length changes, independent of stress direction (that is, compressive or tensile), occurred at the lower temperatures. The lowest temperatures at which creep was significant were (a) high‐alumina brick, 700° to 850°C.; (b) fire‐clay brick, 600° to 700°C.; and (c) siliceous and silica brick, 950°C. Creep results under compressive stress could not be correlated with results under tensile stress. Specimens of different brands, at 950° C. showed greatly different capacities to carry load. Repeated heatings caused growth of silica brick of approximately 0.27%. Moduli of elasticity at room temperature were determined before and after the various heat‐treatments and resultant changes were recorded. The changes in moduli were 15% or greater for silica and siliceous brick and 4% or less for the fire‐clay brick. The moduli of elasticity at room temperature were approximately 2.7–4.3 × 106 for high‐alumina brick, 0.6–1.9 × 106 for fire‐clay brick, 0.3–1.7 × 106 for siliceous fire‐clay brick, and 0.4 × 106 for silica brick.