Civil Engineering Practical Knowledge

If bricks are used in masonry soon after unloading from kiln, brickwork will in course of time expand and crack.

Why?

Because Clay Bricks absorb moisture from the environment.

There are 2 types of expansion in bricks due to absorption of moisture in bricks.

1. Reversible
2. Irreversible

A typical clay brick has an irreversible expansion of 0.08% in the first 8 years, 50% of which takes place in the first week itself.

Reversible expansion is of the order of 0.02% only in 8 years.

When we talk about the whole brick wall, irreversible expansion in brickwork has been found to be about 0.05%, that is 60% of that of bricks.

To avoid this, do the following things:

1. Minimum 2 weeks in summer and 3 weeks in winter be given for storage after being removed from Kiln before using them in masonry.

2. Avoid a small return wall between 2 long walls (as shown in video)...the minimum length of the return wall should be 600 mm that is the length of 3 bricks.

Do proper curing of 7 days and for 10 days in low relative humidity.

It's called Avenue

The main function of roadside avenues is shade. Hence, trees which are quick growing and provide dense shade should be selected.

These trees should provide shade on sides and also on the centre of the road....so should form an umbrella or semi-umbrella crown.

Neem

Mahua

Imli

Mango

These are best for National and state highways.

Eucalyptus is the worst type of tree to be planted for highway avenues because the wood of eucalyptus is weak and breaks down in storm or heavy rain.... causing traffic jam and sometimes loss of life by falling on the moving vehicle.

Have you seen eucalyptus trees on any highway, if yes comment the name of the city and state.

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