Investigation of Brick Masonry Behaviour Under Uniaxial Compression Test at Different Scales

Abstract

In the early era of performing physical studies on scaled masonry model, masonry was taken to be isotropic material, like concrete and its strength and stiffness remained unchanged under scaling. On the contrary, there were also studies suggesting that masonry was an anisotropic material and scaling affected its strength. This paper covers the experimental findings of scale effect on solid clay brick unit and masonry prism subjected to uniaxial compressive loading. The effect of scaling on constituent materials was assessed prior to the investigation of scale effect on masonry prism. Based on experimental results, compressive strength of half scale brick units is higher than full scale brick units. Similarly, compressive strength of half scale masonry prisms is also higher than full scale masonry prisms. Elastic modulus of half scale masonry prisms is smaller than full scale masonry prism. The ratio of mortar to brick unit strength of full scale masonry prisms is found to be governing the extent of increase in compressive strength of half scale masonry prisms. The reduction of scale effect on compressive strength of downscaled masonry is possible with smaller ratio of mortar to brick unit strength.