Masonry Magazine January 1976 Page.17
BIA Technical Notes
on Brick Construction
Brick Institute of America 1750 Old Meadow Road, McLean, Virginia 22101
INTRODUCTION
TESTING FOR ENGINEERED BRICK
MASONRY QUALITY CONTROL
During the construction of structural, engineered brick masonry, it may be necessary to provide some method to assure the quality of the work. These controls may be in the form of materials testing to determine that the materials conform to the project requirements. Control tests may also be used to determine the properties of the masonry as it is constructed or for establishing the integrity of masonry on existing structures.
The intent of this Technical Notes is not to replace the ASTM standards, but to supplement them with additional information to make them easier to apply.
This Technical Notes will discuss the ASTM standards and test procedures that may be used for quality control of engineered brick masonry. It will also discuss interpretation of test results.
The engineer will still be required to use his judgment on these matters. However, it is hoped that this discussion will aid the engineer in makirfg those judgments.
STANDARD METHODS OF TESTS
The ASTM standards with which this Technical Notes is concerned are found in Parts 13, 16 and 18 of the ASTM Book of Standards, 1975 Edition. The applicable standards and the parts of the Book of Standards in which they appear are as follows:
Brick Masonry Units
Standard Methods of Sampling and Testing Brick and Structural Clay Tile, ASTM Designation C 67, Part 16.
Mortar and Grout
Standard Specifications for Masonry Cement (Sections 18-27, Methods of Testing Masonry Cement Mortars), ASTM Designation C 91, Part 13.
Methods of Test for Compressive Strength of Hydraulic Cement Mortars (Using 2-in. Cube Specimens), ASTM Designation C 109, Part 13.
Standard Method for Preconstruction and Construction Evaluation of Mortars for Plain and Reinforced Unit Masonry, ASTM Designation C 780, Part 16.
Masonry Compressive Strength
Standard Methods of Test for Compressive Strength of Masonry Prisms, ASTM Designation E 447, Part 18.
Masonry Bond Strength
Standard Method of Test for Bond Strength of Mortar to Masonry Units, ASTM Designation E 149, Part 18.
Standard Methods of Test for Flexural Bond Strength of Masonry, ASTM Designation E 518, Part 18.
In addition to the above methods of tests, the following methods, while not generally used for quality control, may be used. These methods of tests are fully discussed in Technical Notes 39A.
Masonry Diagonal Tensile (Shear) Strength
Standard Method of Test for Diagonal Tension (Shear) in Masonry Assemblages, ASTM E 519, Part 18.
Masonry Flexural Tensile Strength
Standard Methods of Conducting Strength Tests of Panels for Building Construction, ASTM Designation E 72, Part 18.
PURPOSE AND APPLICATION OF TESTS
General
Building Code Requirements for Engineered Brick Masonry defines "With Inspection" as follows: "Such inspection shall be of a nature as to determine, in general, that the construction and workmanship are in accordance with the contract drawings and specifications." If such inspection is not provided, then the ultimate compressive strength, f'm, when determined by brick tests, shall be reduced by a factor of 1/3.
Prisms
Masonry specimens used for determination of design stresses, as described in Technical Notes 39A, are built using inspected workmanship. Quality control specimens should be built, using the job specified materials, by the masons who are actually constructing the project. It is important that the specimens reflect the same quality of workmanship being done on the project. This will enable the design professional to determine if the masonry, as constructed, has sufficient strength to resist the applied loads with an adequate factor of safety.
Laboratory Equipment and Personnel
It is important that the laboratory selected to perform the testing be properly equipped and staffed. It is also important that the lab staff be knowledgeable about masonry and masonry test procedures. It is necessary to