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Sulphate Attack
Crystallization of Salts from Bricks
Corrosion of Embedded Iron or Steel
Shrinkage on Drying
1. Sulphate Attack
The common forms of defects due to sulphate attack are
These types of defects happens when sulphate salts present in brick work
This reaction causes increase in the volume of mortar and consequently leads to cracks, chipping and
spalling of brick work.
These defects are commonly found in following situation;
This type of defects can be prevented by adopting suitable construction detail and good quality
materials that prohibits entry of moisture into the body of brick work.
4. Shrinkage on Drying
Formation of cracks in masonry joints is one form of defect due to shrinkage.
As brick are porous material it has tendency to absorb water. When it absorbs water it swells and when
this absorbed water evaporates brick starts to shrink. This shrinkage of brick creates cracks in brick
masonry joints.
The formation and type of crack occurs is dependent upon type of mortar used in brick masonry. Where
lean mortar is used in brick masonry crack get distributed over large number of joints and where thick
mortar is used cracks are few but wider.
Shrinkage cracks do not affect the structural strength of brick work and it can be easily prevented