Mechanical properties of artisanal bricks

One of the problems facing construction now is obtaining materials that meet certain conditions of durability and resistance, before weathering or natural phenomena, this work shows the study of the mechanical properties of clay bricks that have were made by hand, between three different brickyards near the Portoviejo canton, here a comparison is made by applying the Ecuadorian standards. The tests allowed performing the comparisons of moisture absorption, compression resistance, and flexural strength test. Field visits, interviews, laboratory tests and tabulation of results have were used as a methodology. The software has was used to make the graphs and statistical tables for its interpretation. As a result of the research, it was found that of the three artisan brick kilns studied. They only meet one of the three criteria established by the INEN. The test that showed the best results was the resistance to bending, while the absorption moisture and resistance to compression results that are below the parameters established in the standard, a situation that is of interest to the community, because a large percentage of the population close to these artisan brick kilns, build their homes with this material