Behaviour of masonry lateral loaded walls made with sediment-based bricks from the Usumacinta river (Mexico)

Abstract

A feasibility study on Usumacinta River sediment-based bricks for resilient housing adapted to both climate change and seismic risks is performed on laterally loaded reduced-scale walls. Mortar formulations with different volume ratios of lime and sand (2/1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/6) are prepared while different types of sediment-based bricks are thoroughly investigated, manufactured and strength characterized. Commercial fired bricks as reference bricks completed the set of bricks tested (FRS: Fired River Sediment-based brick (at 850 °C); LRS: Lime treated River Sediment-based unfired brick (1.5% of lime addition); NRS: Natural fiber Reinforced river Sediment-based unfired brick and FR: commercial Fired Reference brick made without sediment). Walls of different sizes were built with these types of bricks and mortars. Tests under lateral in-plane loads of walls i.e. pushover tests , were conducted. The most significant results are as follows:(1) the addition of lime increases the strength of the mortar; (2) the wall size effect is observed for wall built with reference bricks (FR) and mortar ratio (1/2), where, large walls (LW), intermediate walls (IW) and small walls (SW) exhibiting maximum load of about 1200 N, 440 N and 260 N respectively. Rocking failure mode is the most observed unlike shear and sliding mode which are rarer. (3) maximum load measured during a pushover test performed on walls with sediment-based bricks provides a satisfactory average of 130 N, which exceeds the strength recommended for light buildings; The failure mode is sliding for fired bricks and rocking for unfired bricks. (4) the sediment-based bricks walls give an interesting ductility to pushover test while (2.6–40). These results show promising perspectives on the possibility of using the Usumacinta River sediment-based bricks in walls for light constructions under seismic loading. • The use of Usumacinta River sediment-based bricks is suitable in light buildings (80). • Fired, unfired: lime treated and fibered sediment-based bricks are used for wall tests (86). • The sediment-based brick wall gives satisfactory pushover resistance (68). • The ductility of the walls demonstrates significant seismic resistance (69).