Flexural behavior of hollow interlocking compressed stabilized earth-block masonry walls under out-of-plane loading

Abstract

The present study aims to investigate the out-of-plane flexural behavior of hollow interlocking compressed stabilized earth block (ICSEB) masonry walls reinforced with bamboo and steel bars. The effect of grouting, channel block and reinforcement layout (vertical and mesh type) was assessed. A total of thirty masonry walls were fabricated using fibre reinforced blocks and categorized into five groups: two groups of ungrouted and grouted (without bamboo or steel reinforcement) masonry wall specimens and three groups of grouted masonry wall specimens reinforced with bamboo splints and steel bars. All the specimens were subjected to a constant pre-compression load while lateral load parallel to bed joints was gradually applied until failure. In addition, the experimental moment capacity of reinforced masonry walls was compared with the MSJC-11 formulations to assess the applicability. A statistical regression analysis was then performed on the test results to predict the ultimate moment and deformation capacity of all wall specimens. Test results suggest that grout alone has significantly contributed to the load carrying capacity of wall specimens but with a marginal improvement in deformability. While, channel blocks has no significant effect on load carrying capacity of reinforced grouted masonry wall specimens. Bamboo splints and steel bars as internal reinforcements are very effective in preventing the sudden failure and also enhancing the flexural resistance of masonry walls. Steel mesh showed the highest load carrying capacity, lateral deformation and energy absorption capacity. The addition of bamboo or steel reinforcement combined with grout improved the ultimate load carrying, deformation capacity and energy absorption of walls by 114.88%–260.55%, 19%–35.52% and 168.25%–489.28% respectively.The MSJC-11 code overestimated the moment capacity of reinforced masonry walls; whereas the regression models developed accurately predicted the moment capacity and lateral deformation of the masonry walls.