Reinforced Brickwork is used in construction primarily to
- AImprove the fire resistance of the bricks.
- BEnable the brick masonry to resist tensile and shear stresses.Correct
- CMake the wall completely transparent.
- DReduce the amount of mortar required by 50%.
Solution
Concept
Reinforced Brick Masonry
Formula
N/A
Step-by-step solution
1. Review the given question about the primary purpose of using reinforced brickwork in construction. 2. Recall that embedding steel reinforcement enables brick masonry to effectively resist tensile and shear stresses. 3. Compare with the given options and select Option (b) as the correct choice.
Explanation
Plain brickwork is strong when taking compressive loads (pushing forces) but weak against tensile forces (pulling) and shear stresses (sliding forces). Adding steel reinforcement inside the brickwork allows it to safely resist tensile and shear stresses, preventing cracking and structural failure.
Shortcut
To remember why Reinforced Brickwork is used, use the simple rule "Bricks Push, Steel Pulls & Slides": - Bricks handle Compression (pushing forces). - Steel handles Tension (pulling) and Shear (sliding) stresses, preventing structural cracking.
Common mistake
A common mistake is selecting Option A by incorrectly assuming that reinforcement is added to enhance the fire-resistant properties of the masonry. In reality, bricks already possess good fire resistance, and steel reinforcement is specifically added to overcome brickwork's natural weakness in resisting tensile and shear stresses.
Correct answer: B) Enable the brick masonry to resist tensile and shear stresses.