Tests conducted on mortar are as follows:

A. Adhesiveness to building units B. Crushing strength C. Tensile strength

A. Adhesiveness to building units:

Following procedure adopted to carry out this test:

i. The two bricks are placed at right angles to each other as shown in figure.

ii. The mortar is placed to join them so as to form a horizontal joint. If size of bricks is 190mm x 90mm x 90mm, a horizontal join of 90mm x 90mm = 810mm2 will be formed.

iii. The upper brick is suspended from an overhead support the weights are attached to the lower brick. iv. The weights are gradually increased till separation of brick occurs.

v. The ultimate adhesive strength of mortar per mm2 area is obtained by dividing maximum load with 810.

B. Crushing Strength:

i. For this test, the brickwork is carried out with mortar to be tested. A sample of this brickwork is taken and it is gradually loaded in a compression testing machine till failure occurs due to crushing. The ultimate crushing strength is obtained by dividing maximum load with cross sectional area.

C. Tensile Strength:

i. For this test, the mortar to be tested is placed in the briquette moulds as shown in fig.

ii. The briquettes are then tested in a tension testing machine. The cross sectional are of central portion is 38mm x 38mm or 1444mm2. The ultimate tensile stress per mm2 is obtained by dividing failing load with 1444.