40
A. K. Mirasa and C.-S. Chong
2.3 The Interlocking Mechanism
A wall is known as a vertical structure where its length and height are far larger than
its thickness. Through the conventional mortared-brick techniques, the wall construction stages broadly involve bricklaying, jointing and plastering process. When
the conventional bricks are used to construct the wall, mortar is applied around the
headers and the top face of each brick to joint with bricks beside and above it.
For the interlocking brick system, the mortar layers or plastering on both sides
of the bricks are eliminated. Indeed, the specially designed shapes or forms of interlocking bricks enable the interlocking mechanism establishing among the bricks. By
implementing this locking bond, the stability (horizontal and vertical alignment) of
the constructed interlocking brick system is enhanced (Fundi et al. 2018).
The loads that act on the interlocking brick system are transmitted from a brick
directly to others and do not across the intermediate mortar layers. Moreover, each
face of interlocking brick restrains the out-of-plane displacement both along and
normal to the wall (Rezaee Javan et al. 2018). In short, the interlocking mechanism
of the interlocking brick system not only reduces the usage of joining mortar, but
also enhance the structural behaviour of the interlocking brick wall.
3 The Production Method of the Interlocking Brick
In general, the interlocking brick is manufactured by first identifying the soil types
with the respective testing. After the essential characteristics of the soil are examined,
the soil extraction which includes excavation, sieving or pulverizing and preparations
that covers drying and crushing are carried out. Subsequently, the raw material of
the interlocking bricks, which consist of soil, fine aggregate, cement and water, are
mixed with manual, machine, pressing or any other methods. Hereafter, the mixture
is compressed in a mould by using manual or hydraulic press.
Compaction ratio is defined as the ratio of the height of the brick mould (before
the compaction) to the height of the completed compressed brick. Bahar et al. (2004)
have suggested that the compaction ratios exceeding 1.65 are capable to produce
brick with good strength. In this research, the compaction ratio of the compactor
by the hydraulic press is about 1.7. Then, the manufacturing process of bricks is
completed and the curing process should be carried on for 14 days. Within the first 7
days, the manufactured bricks are watered every day during morning, afternoon and
evening (three times per day). Thence, the bricks are moved to an open space to dry
naturally during the 8th–14th day. Figure 3 has summarized this production method
of the interlocking bricks.
Interlocking bricks usually are fabricated in the form of solid, perforated or hollow.
The distinction between perforated and hollow bricks is divided based on the surface
area of the brick holes. As the surface area of the holes occupies less than 25%, the
bricks are classified as perforated bricks. For producing the solid interlocking bricks,
A. K. Mirasa and C.-S. Chong
2.3 The Interlocking Mechanism
A wall is known as a vertical structure where its length and height are far larger than
its thickness. Through the conventional mortared-brick techniques, the wall construction stages broadly involve bricklaying, jointing and plastering process. When
the conventional bricks are used to construct the wall, mortar is applied around the
headers and the top face of each brick to joint with bricks beside and above it.
For the interlocking brick system, the mortar layers or plastering on both sides
of the bricks are eliminated. Indeed, the specially designed shapes or forms of interlocking bricks enable the interlocking mechanism establishing among the bricks. By
implementing this locking bond, the stability (horizontal and vertical alignment) of
the constructed interlocking brick system is enhanced (Fundi et al. 2018).
The loads that act on the interlocking brick system are transmitted from a brick
directly to others and do not across the intermediate mortar layers. Moreover, each
face of interlocking brick restrains the out-of-plane displacement both along and
normal to the wall (Rezaee Javan et al. 2018). In short, the interlocking mechanism
of the interlocking brick system not only reduces the usage of joining mortar, but
also enhance the structural behaviour of the interlocking brick wall.
3 The Production Method of the Interlocking Brick
In general, the interlocking brick is manufactured by first identifying the soil types
with the respective testing. After the essential characteristics of the soil are examined,
the soil extraction which includes excavation, sieving or pulverizing and preparations
that covers drying and crushing are carried out. Subsequently, the raw material of
the interlocking bricks, which consist of soil, fine aggregate, cement and water, are
mixed with manual, machine, pressing or any other methods. Hereafter, the mixture
is compressed in a mould by using manual or hydraulic press.
Compaction ratio is defined as the ratio of the height of the brick mould (before
the compaction) to the height of the completed compressed brick. Bahar et al. (2004)
have suggested that the compaction ratios exceeding 1.65 are capable to produce
brick with good strength. In this research, the compaction ratio of the compactor
by the hydraulic press is about 1.7. Then, the manufacturing process of bricks is
completed and the curing process should be carried on for 14 days. Within the first 7
days, the manufactured bricks are watered every day during morning, afternoon and
evening (three times per day). Thence, the bricks are moved to an open space to dry
naturally during the 8th–14th day. Figure 3 has summarized this production method
of the interlocking bricks.
Interlocking bricks usually are fabricated in the form of solid, perforated or hollow.
The distinction between perforated and hollow bricks is divided based on the surface
area of the brick holes. As the surface area of the holes occupies less than 25%, the
bricks are classified as perforated bricks. For producing the solid interlocking bricks,