Brick Layer Research Articles

Asymptotic homogenization of energy-limited nonlinear microperiodic composites with imperfect interfaces to model failure of masonry structures under uniaxial compression

In this work, a masonry prismatic structure made of alternating layers of mortar and bricks is modeled as a periodic two-phase elastic composite with one-dimensional heterogeneity along the layering direction. The prediction of its mechanical behavior (failure mainly) is important to estimate the allowable stress and stiffness used in the masonry design. At the mortar-brick interfaces, both ideally perfect contact and spring-type imperfect contact are considered. In order to model both classical and failure behaviors simultaneously, a nonlinear constitutive relation, which results from limiting the classical Hookean energy by inserting it into the so-called softening hyperelasticity energy representation, is adopted. The model is a two-point boundary value problem, which is stated by subjecting the resulting mechanical equilibrium nonlinear differential equation to the contact conditions at the interfaces and the mixed boundary conditions corresponding to uniaxial compression in the layering direction. The masonry structure exhibits separation of scales, as its size is generally much greater than the size of the mortar-brick periodicity cell, so its mechanical properties are rapidly oscillating, and also the equivalent homogeneity is guaranteed, justifying the application of the asymptotic homogenization method. Here, the effective law, that is, the constitutive relation of the equivalent homogeneous structure, is obtained via the asymptotic homogenization method. Finally, comparisons with experimental results from the literature are provided, which show qualitative agreement and that the model with imperfect contact is more accurate than the one with perfect contact.

The Characterization of the Building Materials Used in the Refectory of the Manzana Jesuítica in Córdoba (Argentina) on the Basis of a Study of Its Historical Background and the Archaeological Evidence

This paper explores the historical and geological background of the refectory of the Manzana Jesuítica in the city of Córdoba (Argentina), as a basis for characterising some of the building materials used in it. The aim is to gain a better understanding of the raw materials, labour, and production methods employed by the Jesuits in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. To this end, six fragments containing brick, render, and paint layers were studied by X-ray diffraction and using optical and scanning electron microscopies. Our results show that the ceramics differed solely in terms of their firing temperature, while the mortars were either air lime- or gypsum-based. The paints, mainly lime-based with clays, have similar mineralogical compositions, with some differences in colour due to the presence of goethite. This study demonstrates that the Jesuits, through their strategically situated settlements in the province of Córdoba, developed an economic system for the extraction and transport of raw materials, centred around the use of local resources. This, combined with construction techniques imported from Spain and adapted to local circumstances, was a sign of the adaptability of the Jesuit Order and their lasting influence on the region. Understanding the materials and techniques used by the Jesuits provides valuable insight into the methods of construction employed in historical buildings, offering key perspectives for their conservation. Moreover, it highlights the significance of local resource management in the longevity and preservation of these architectural works.

Alternative processing routes on CsH2PO4 proton conductors: Cold sintering and ball-milling routes

Cesium dihydrogen phosphate (CsH2PO4) holds great potential as electrolyte for intermediate-temperature fuel cells and electrochemical devices due to its high proton conductivity (≥10−2 S/cm). This study reports on the variation of the microstructure of CsH2PO4 and its effect on its electrical and thermal properties, with special attention to the low-temperature conductivity behavior. To manipulate morphology, the particle size was decreased by wet ball-milling, while variations in grain growth were achieved by cold sintering. Above the superprotonic phase transition, the electrical conductivity was effectively independent of the grain size. Nonetheless, at lower temperatures, a brick layer analysis on the impedance data revealed that the conductivity of the monoclinic phase is governed by the conduction pathways along the parallel grain boundaries due to the humidified atmosphere. Overall, we propose two conduction mechanisms that could explain the grain boundary conductivity of these samples, revealing critical links between sample morphology and low-temperature electrical behavior.

ESTABLISHING THE RELIABILITY LEVEL OF MASONRY BEARING STRUCTURES BASED ON ITS COMPONENT STRENGTH ANALYSIS

The article discusses aspects related to assessing the reliability of masonry structures. The authors present methods for determining the compressive strength of masonry in existing structures, taking into account reliability theory. We also consider practical solutions for calculating the design strength of masonry, which may help to assess the safety of massive brick walls and pillars that act as core structural elements of existing buildings. Thus, walls and pillars operating in compression are vital elements of stone buildings and require special attention when analysing and assessing their strength. They carry enormous loads and are critical to the stability of the entire structure. There are cases when it may be hard to obtain safe samples for testing masonry mechanical performance, making the analysis of existing masonry structures difficult. However, building codes and methods provide specific methods for determining the strength of existing structures based on reliability theory. These methods assume uniformity of masonry with regularly spaced brick layers. Although such assumptions may simplify the analysis, they can still provide sufficiently accurate results for making decisions about the safety and reliability of the building. It is essential to consider all possible factors and limitations when using these methods to ensure a reliable assessment of the condition of masonry structures. Stone materials are among the most traditional in various areas of construction production. Buildings with brick load-bearing walls represent the lion’s share of the existing housing development in Ukraine. Ensuring its high-quality operation and the safety of residents during the life cycle of such buildings are priority areas. However, changes occurring in the external environment and the state of regulatory support for construction production require a periodic return to the issues of assessing the load-bearing capacity of both previously erected building structures and those under design. Thus, lately, the territories with previously unusual force impacts on building structures, such as horizontal displacements of the base of the building, have significantly expanded. The reasons for this include seismic activity in certain regions of the country and the results of anthropogenic factors, particularly the areas with unstable soils. We should note that many buildings and structures are subject to external influence due to military operations on a large territory of Ukraine. So, in the event of a hit by warheads or the action of a blast wave, they generate new, non-typical, but dangerous effects on the load-bearing structures of the entire building. Keywords: reliability theory, reliability assessment, structural safety, stone structures, masonry strength.

Near-atomic-resolution structure of J-aggregated helical light-harvesting nanotubes.

Cryo-electron microscopy has delivered a resolution revolution for biological self-assemblies, yet only a handful of structures have been solved for synthetic supramolecular materials. Particularly for chromophore supramolecular aggregates, high-resolution structures are necessary for understanding and modulating the long-range excitonic coupling. Here, we present a 3.3 Å structure of prototypical biomimetic light-harvesting nanotubes derived from an amphiphilic cyanine dye (C8S3-Cl). Helical 3D reconstruction directly visualizes the chromophore packing that controls the excitonic properties. Our structure clearly shows a brick layer arrangement, revising the previously hypothesized herringbone arrangement. Furthermore, we identify a new non-biological supramolecular motif-interlocking sulfonates-that may be responsible for the slip-stacked packing and J-aggregate nature of the light-harvesting nanotubes. This work shows how independently obtained native-state structures complement photophysical measurements and will enable accurate understanding of (excitonic) structure-function properties, informing materials design for light-harvesting chromophore aggregates.

The Effects of Inhaling Cement Particles on Some Coagulation Parameters of Bricklayers and Blockmakers in Owo Ondo State Nigeria

Background: Economic development alters the natural environment and sometimes harms ecosystems in terms of the humanly useful services they provide, their diversity, and their resilience. We are coming to understand that all of this has significant consequences for human health. Environmental health has been understood as a public health issue in relation to air quality, water quality, and exposure to environmental pollutants that are toxic, carcinogenic, or teratogenic or are chemically bioactive in other ways. Aim: This study investigates the effect of inhaling cement particles on some coagulation profiles among the brick layers and block makers in Owo, Ondo State. Method: This was cross-sectional descriptive and analysis of 50 brick layers and block makers together with 50 non brick layers nor block makers that serve as controls. Results: The results from the study shows a statistically significant increase in platelet count (p<0.05) when compared to the control, while a statistically significant reduced time of PT and APTT were recorded (p<0.05). There were no statistically significant results when the years of exposure were considered as shown in table 2 (p>0.05) Conclusion: The results of this work shows that exposure to cement particles exposes the workers to hypercoagulability which is a tendency to thrombosis, thromboembolism and can also leads to cardiovascular disease.

Streamlining LEGO® model design: an automated optimisation approach

LEGO® models have become increasingly popular beyond their traditional toy and entertainment applications, and are now used in fields such as education, cognitive science, engineering and robotics. However, designing LEGO® models for such diverse applications poses new challenges in terms of automation and optimisation. To address such issues, this paper proposes a design support system that automatically generates LEGO® models from any 3D model of a target object using a specific set of standard LEGO® bricks in a layer-by-layer fashion. The system converts the 3D model into a LEGO® model using the minimum number of LEGO® bricks required. The core of the proposed system lies in the use of a greedy algorithm for merging optimisation of each layer of bricks and a depth-first search algorithm for optimising the connection between multiple layers of bricks. Experimental results on several 3D graphics validate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology and its ability to output the corresponding LEGO® model and detailed layout illustrations for each layer of bricks. The proposed system can provide LEGO® builders with an automated optimisation approach for designing LEGO® models, minimising errors compared to manual design.

Mechanical properties of heterogeneous metallic glasses: Insights from brick-and-mortar designs

The brick-and-mortar architectural paradigm is commonly applied in structural design to achieve an exceptional combination of strength and plasticity due to its highly tunable mechanical attributes. This study applies molecular dynamics simulations of tensile loading to investigate the mechanical properties and failure mechanisms of brick-and-mortar metallic glasses (BMMGs). The focus is primarily on the implications of the aspect ratio of the bricks and interlayer thickness on the strength, plasticity, and deformation mechanisms. Results indicate that the failure mode is typified by multiple shear bands localized within the softer mortar regions, creating a staggered network under smaller aspect ratios that significantly enhances plastic deformation. However, a transition to a single dominant SB occurs when the aspect ratio exceeds 4.1. In addition, results indicate that a concurrent improvement in strength and plasticity can be achieved by modulating the distance between brick layers in BMMGs. This enhancement originates from the extensive generation and interaction of shear transformation zones. This study highlights that a desirable balance between strength and plasticity can be obtained in BMMGs with appropriate brick aspect ratios and interlayer thicknesses, providing a potential design strategy for the advancement of novel metallic glasses with superior properties.

Influence of Microstructure on the Material Properties of LLZO Ceramics Derived by Impedance Spectroscopy and Brick Layer Model Analysis.

Variants of garnet-type Li7La3Zr2O12 are being intensively studied as separator materials in solid-state battery research. The material-specific transport properties, such as bulk and grain boundary conductivity, are of prime interest and are mostly investigated by impedance spectroscopy. Data evaluation is usually based on the one-dimensional (1D) brick layer model, which assumes a homogeneous microstructure of identical grains. Real samples show microstructural inhomogeneities in grain size and porosity due to the complex behavior of grain growth in garnets that is very sensitive to the sintering protocol. However, the true microstructure is often omitted in impedance data analysis, hindering the interlaboratory reproducibility and comparability of results reported in the literature. Here, we use a combinatorial approach of structural analysis and three-dimensional (3D) transport modeling to explore the effects of microstructure on the derived material-specific properties of garnet-type ceramics. For this purpose, Al-doped Li7La3Zr2O12 pellets with different microstructures are fabricated and electrochemically characterized. A machine learning-assisted image segmentation approach is used for statistical analysis and quantification of the microstructural changes during sintering. A detailed analysis of transport through statistically modeled twin microstructures demonstrates that the transport parameters derived from a 1D brick layer model approach show uncertainties up to 150%, only due to variations in grain size. These uncertainties can be even larger in the presence of porosity. This study helps to better understand the role of the microstructure of polycrystalline electroceramics and its influence on experimental results.

Thermochemical Expansion and Protonic and Electronic Hole Conductivity of Grain Interior and Grain Boundaries in 10 Mole% Y-Substituted SrZrO3.

Proton conducting acceptor-doped SrZrO3 has a history as long as that of BaZrO3 , but has attracted less interest. Inspired by its higher transport number of ionic conduction in wet oxygen revealed by our recent work, we here explore further aspects of doped SrZrO3 as electrolyte in proton ceramic electrochemical cells. In-situ high temperature XRD (HT-XRD) analysis of SrZr0.9 Y0.1 O3-δ (SZY10) indicated an anisotropic chemical expansion of hydration, stronger along the b than the a direction, and negative in the c direction. A systematic electromotive force (EMF) and impedance spectroscopy study as a function of and allowed determination of partial conductivities of electron holes and ions (mainly protons) in bulk (grain interior) and grain boundaries. Enthalpies and preexponentials were determined and interpreted for bulk and grain boundary partial conductivities based on defect chemistry and a brick layer model. The hole conductivity in bulk is modest and ensures high ionic transport numbers in oxidizing atmospheres, while grain boundaries exhibit lower ionic transport numbers from a relatively higher hole conductivity attributed primarily to tunnelling past the deepest part of the space charge region. Y-doped SrZrO3 (SZY) materials exhibit lower proton conductivities but excel over Y-doped BaZrO3 (BZY) in terms of thermal expansion compatibility with electrode materials and higher ionic transport numbers in oxidizing atmospheres and may hence be candidates for functional layers between BZY-based electrolytes and positrodes in proton ceramic electrochemical cells.

A brick layer model for surface conduction in porous ceramics

We provide herein a review and in-depth derivation and discussion of a surface brick layer model (SBLM) that scales the conductance of a surface layer – such as protonic conductance in adsorbed water – and the macroscopic conductivity for the porous material. The model is derived on basis of grains and pores of similar sizes and will be most realistic for porous compacts or loosely sintered ceramics of isotropic grains, although it still provides order-of-magnitude guidance also for textured or less porous materials. Brief comparison is made with other relevant models and literature. The model is illustrated and evaluated with data primarily from measurements of surface protonic conduction in porous nanoscopic ceramic oxides.

The effect of using phase-changing materials on non-residential air-conditioning cooling load in hot climate areas

Energy management is becoming one of the major research fields as the world is suffering from energy and oil/gas scarcities, coupled with the increase in greenhouse gases emissions and pollution. Refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment are known to be one of the largest electric consuming sectors, reaching around half the global energy consumption. Thermal comfort requirements, especially in hot climate areas, are becoming a challenge for air-conditioning applications; both residential and non-residential. This study investigates the usage of various methods to reduce the cooling load for buildings, including the use of heavy-weight building materials which is costly and the use of commercial thermal insulation that are not environment-friendly and, phase-changing materials (PCM). This study presents a numerical investigation of the suitable layer thickness and type in hot climate areas for two commonly used brick wall thicknesses of 12 and 25 cm. The effect of different parameters is investigated including the effect of PCM type, PCM layer thickness, wall thickness, and incorporation of commercial insulating materials. The best wall combination that provides minimum peak load is the 12 cm brick layer paired with 5 mm of paraffin wax of type 1.

Charge transport and dielectric characteristics of Sm x Bi1−x FeO3 thin films from the perspective of grain and grain boundary properties

Samarium-substituted bismuth ferrite (Sm x Bi1−x FeO3) compositions comprise a system of important materials due to their combination of multiferroic properties. Several dielectric and charge transport reports in literature can be found in this system. However, as a typical polycrystalline electroceramic, their grains and grain boundaries (GBs) are expected to possess very different properties. To this date, these distinctions have not been determined for this system. In this work, through measurements via impedance spectroscopy on Sm x Bi1−x FeO3 thin films, we show that using a brick layer model allows the separation of the electrical properties of grains and GBs. Results indicate that grains have dielectric permittivity and electrical conductivity much higher than GBs. Their properties mostly control the characteristics observed in the studied thin films. The introduction of samarium reduces the electrical conductivity and increases the activation energies for charge transport in grains and GBs. In turn, dielectric permittivity is reduced in grains and subtly increased in GBs.

Nitrogen removal of decentralized swine wastewater by pilot-scale source reduction – anaerobic baffled reactor – zoning constructed wetlands at low temperatures

The study developed a cost-effective integrated technology to treat swine wastewater at the pilot-scale small pigsty. The swine wastewater, which was separated rinse water after flowing through the slatted floor and the innovatively constructed liquid-liquid separate collection device, was subsequently pumped into an anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR) and then through zoning constructed wetlands (CWs) comprised of CW1, CW2, and CW3. The liquid-liquid separate collection device effectively reduced COD, NH4–N, and TN by 57.82%, 52.39%, and 50.95%, respectively. The CW1 and CW2 enhanced TN removal and nitrification, respectively, through rapid adsorption-bioregeneration of zeolite. Moreover, rice straws were used as solid carbon sources in CW3 to successfully promote denitrification at 16.0 g/(m3·d). The integrated technology (slatted floor-liquid liquid separate collection-ABR-CWs) reduced COD, NH4–N, and TN by 98.17%, 87.22%, and 87.88%, respectively, at approximately 10 °C. Microbial analysis results confirmed that the CWs exhibited apparent functional zoning, with denitrifiers dominating in CW3, nitrifiers dominating in the zeolite layers of CW1 and CW2, and denitrifiers dominating in the brick slag layers of CWs. This cost-effective integrated technology demonstrated significant potential for treating swine wastewater at low temperatures.

The Importance of Moisture Transport Properties of Wall Finishings on the Hygrothermal Performance of Masonry Walls for Current and Future Climates

A render is the first protective layer of exterior walls against the outdoor climate, which, due to its constitution, aims to gradually slow down the liquid moisture penetration to prevent it from reaching the wall inner layers. Due to the future expected changes in the outdoor climate, today’s exterior mortar might not be adequately designed to protect these walls. This paper aims to analyse the influence of mortars on the hygrothermal performance of solid brick walls under current and future climates. The study includes four types of assemblies and three types of mortars, and it was carried out for Lisbon and three other climates by using a computational simulation tool. Finally, the moisture gains and respective reach due to the future wind-driven rain (WDR) spells were assessed by means of using future weather files for Lisbon’s climate. It was shown that the solid brick layer is influenced differently depending on the characteristics of the mortar layers and outdoor conditions. In terms of WDR spells, aside from the precipitation and the spell period, the distribution of the WDR events within the spell also conditions the dryness of the assembly. The depth that the outdoor moisture was able to reach varies between 94 and 200 mm.

Investigating the grain boundary features of lithium titanium phosphate as an electrolyte for all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries and their optimization by boron doping

This work reports a detailed analysis of the grain boundary electrochemical properties of lithium titanium phosphate for application in all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries and their improvement by boron addition, Li1+xTi2−xBx(PO4)3 (x = 0, 0.2). The results demonstrate that highly resistive grain boundaries exist in the undoped material, which preclude its ability to attain a high overall Li-ion conductivity. Conversely, boron addition provides a significant improvement of both bulk and grain boundary conductivities, resulting from the Li-enrichment associated with charge compensation for the boron doping. A detailed analysis using the brick layer model and a space charge analysis reveals a lower depletion of Li+ species at the space charge layers of the grain boundaries of the boron-doped sample, which allow a higher intrinsic grain boundary conductivity to be offered by this material. This factor permits a much higher overall conductivity to be attained in the boron-containing sample, despite a finer microstructure. Overall, this work provides new insights regarding the electrochemical nature of the grain boundary of NASICON-based solid-state Li-electrolytes, underscoring the effectiveness of composition-driven grain boundary engineering for performance improvement; a factor that is currently understudied for this category of material.

Thermo-physical and energy performance of building envelope modified by natural fiber through building information modelling

The insulating capacity of building envelope materials is vital in defining the heating and cooling (H & C) energy demand. A sustainable strategy for conventional envelope materials is hybridization with natural or waste fibers for better thermal performance. Therefore, this study was designed to use natural (bamboo, coconut coir, jute, sisal) and waste (polyester) fibers for modified envelope materials (brick and mortar). Firstly, the influence of fibers on thermo-physical properties of thermal conductivity, bulk density, porosity, water absorption was analyzed for the brick and mortar made of the aforementioned five fibers. As a result, the best fiber type for the insulating performance is determined as coconut and jute for brick and mortar, respectively. Next, the energy performance of an envelope with best fiber modified material was investigated through BIM energy analysis in terms of H & C loads. Simulations were performed for five cases by modifying the three-layer wall assembly and further by varying the brick layer thickness (115 − 230 mm), while the mortar thickness was set as 20 mm. Lastly, economic feasibility was assessed by quantifying the payback period for each thickness. Experimental results revealed that the thermal conductivity of the fiber modified brick and mortar was reduced by 18 and 10%, respectively, by virtue of decreased bulk densities and increased porosity and water absorption. It was also found that the thermo-physical properties have a high interdependency by correlation matrix analysis. For the peak H & C loads analysis, they were reduced for fiber modified materials by maximum of 15% and 9%, respectively, as compared with the unmodified envelop material. Furthermore, by increasing thickness from 115 to 230 mm the H & C loads were reduced up to 43% and 33%. Consequently, the addition of the natural or waste fibers was economically feasible with short payback periods (12–48 months) even though the volume fraction of fiber was just 1%.

Establishing a new genus, Chiharadinium gen. nov. (Peridiniales, Dinophyceae) for a tidal pool dinoflagellate formerly known as Scrippsiella hexapraecingula

SUMMARYTo determine its accurate taxonomic position, a tidal pool bloom‐forming dinoflagellate, Scrippsiella hexapraecingula was re‐investigated using light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy together with a phylogenetic analysis based on concatenated ribosomal DNA sequences. The culture strains used in this study were established from intertidal rock pool samples taken from Jogashima, Kanagawa prefecture and Heisaura, Chiba prefecture, Japan and were identified as S. hexapraecingula originally described by Horiguchi and Chihara from a tidal pool in Hachijo Island, Tokyo, Japan in 1983. The thecal plate arrangement was determined as Po, X, 4′, 3a, 6″, 6c, 5s, 5″′, 2″″. The internal structure was investigated for the first time. The organism has typical dinoflagellate cellular organelles such as a dinokaryotic nucleus, mitochondria with tubular cristae, trichocysts and pusule. The chloroplast was single and connected to the central pyrenoid (stalked type). The eyespot found in the sulcus is of the B type with two rows of superficial intraplastidal lipid globules directly overlain by an extraplastidal single layer of crystalline bricks enveloped by a common membrane. The apical pore is plugged by a double‐layered stub‐like structure. Stalk building material for attachment covered the apical pore. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that S. hexapraecingula was most closely related to a freshwater dinoflagellate, Peridiniopsis borgei, the type species of the genus Peridiniopsis. However, clear differences exist between these two organisms, including their thecal plate arrangement, habitat and habit. As a result, a new genus, Chiharadinium Dawut & T. Horiguchi gen. nov. has been proposed rather than attempting to accommodate S. hexapraecingula in the genus Peridiniopsis. The new combination, Chiharadinium hexapraecingulum (T. Horiguchi & Chihara) Dawut & T. Horiguchi comb. nov. has been proposed.

The impact of mortar thickness and strength on the brick masonry prism: An investigation

Brick masonry is the oldest type of building construction, and despite advances in technology, it is still widely used worldwide. The quality of resources adopted in the erection, thickness, and the kind of masonry bond all impact the mechanical characteristics of the prisms. The investigation is intended to examine the mechanical features of masonry that are affected by the joint thickness and mortar type. Cement mortar and hydrated lime mortar are combined with the same kind of brick throughout the experimental work. For evaluation, 5 layers of bricks are used to prepare a masonry prism prototype. The thicknesses used in the study are 13 ± 3 mm, 20 ± 3 mm, and 27 ± 3 mm with cement mortar and lime mortar. Results reveal that the properties of the mortars impact the failure mechanisms of the prisms. Crushing brick units showed masonry failure with 13 mm of mortar thickness, and 27 mm of mortar thickness showed the shearing failure of brick-and-mortar units. A joint thickness of about 20 mm is advised during the construction of standard masonry walls to sustain the loading.

Wind-driven rainwater penetration through brick veneer with and without surface treatments

Rainwater penetration through building enclosures is a critical factor affecting building performance and durability. Understanding and assessing rainwater penetration and its prevention through the brick veneer and brick wall is crucial to controlling and avoiding moisture-related problems such as fungal growth and damages in interior structural elements. Addition of a layer of clay bricks as a cladding (veneer) to the exposed surface of a building envelope is a common practice in Canada. Though clay brick veneer provides adequate weather resistance for the building, it does not offer complete resistance to wind-driven rainwater penetration unless other measures such as surface treatment or additional layer of cladding is incorporated. Hence, studying the aspects of resistance to water penetration of commonly used cladding systems is of utmost importance. This paper presents outcomes of an experimental study conducted to determine water penetration of brick veneer specimens with two different initial rate of absorption values, two void amounts, and three different surface treatments. The study found that the surface treatment is a viable method for improving the resistance of water penetration inside the building envelope and the plastering was found to be the most effective method. The study also found that the initial rate of absorption and thickness of the bricks affect the water penetration; however, void amount in the brick does not affect much on water leakage of the masonry walls. • This paper presents various options to minimize and stop water penetration into the building envelope. • Three different surface treatments of brick veneer on rainwater penetration were studied. • Surface treatment with plaster is able to completely prevent water penetration. • Between the two water repellent treatments, water-based water repellent showed a better performance. • The paper also presents effect of IRA and void percentage of clay bricks on rainwater penetration.