The GATE Grind

GATE 2016 CE (CE2) – Question 19

Construction Materials · Cement: hydration, admixtures · 1 mark · Multiple choice

As per Indian standards for bricks, minimum acceptable compressive strength of any class of burnt clay bricks in dry state is

  1. 10.0 MPa
  2. 7.5 MPa
  3. 5.0 MPa
  4. 3.5 MPa

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Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: (D) 3.5 MPa

Explanation

The conventional IS1077 classification includes class3.5 as the lowest listed common burnt-clay brick class, corresponding to3.5N/mm². Therefore the paper’s intended minimum is **3.5MPa, D**. The stem describes dry-state strength, whereas class strength should be understood with the standard’s specified test-conditioning procedure, not an arbitrary dry test.