Investigation of failure modes in unreinforced brick masonry walls subjected to different load combinations

Abstract

The aim of this investigations to study the mechanical behaviour of structural clay brick masonry made from local materials and to investigate the effects of mortar joint thickness on the compressive strength of brickwork. Different sets of prisms, both full scale and half scale made from five bricks, and having different mortar joint thickness have been tested. Using a simple statistical method, the characteristic compressive strength of the structural brickwork under axial compression for each set has been determined. An attempt has also been made to assess the modulus of elasticity of the brick masonry. Numerical analyses of the prisms having different mortar joint thickness have also been carried out. Finite element analysis is carried out adopting two different idealization techniques, which assume the prisms are made from a homogenous material in the first assumption and from composite material in the second assumption. In conclusion the effect of the mortar joint thickness on the compressive strength of the masonry has been reported, and an approximate modulus of elasticity of the brickworks for analysis and design has been proposed. A minimum magnification factor has been proposed to predict the actual/experimental strength of the brick masonry from its finite element analysis.