Impact of dampness to changes in the mechanical properties of solid fired bricks

Abstract

This work deals with the monitoring of changes in the mechanical properties of solid fired bricks depending on their dampness using non-destructive methods. Decreases of first natural frequencies by the resonance method and increase of passage times of ultrasonic waves depending on increasing dampness are monitored. The elements were firstly fully saturated and then slowly dried so that it was possible to record the values of the first natural frequencies and the passage times of the ultrasonic waves at different dampness. It is not possible to record values in all dampness, so the measured values were interpolated by regression models. A polynomial of the 2nd degree seems to be the most suitable. Dampness corresponding to the minimum natural frequencies and the maximum passage times of the ultrasonic waves were performed on these regression models. This research is the first step in determining the durability criteria for ceramic products, especially solid fired bricks. In the future, durability criteria should help in the reconstruction of historic buildings to assess whether the element that will be exposed to the weather is durable or not. These tests are completely non-destructive, which means that the tested element can be subsequently used in construction.