Influence of shear bond strength on compressive strength and stress–strain characteristics of masonry

Abstract

The paper is focused on shear bond strength–masonry compressive strength relationships and the influence of bond strength on stress–strain characteristics of masonry using soil–cement blocks and cement–lime mortar. Methods of enhancing shear bond strength of masonry couplets without altering the strength and modulus of masonry unit and the mortar are discussed in detail. Application of surface coatings and manipulation of surface texture of the masonry unit resulted in 3–4 times increase in shear bond strength. After adopting various bond enhancing techniques masonry prism strength and stress–strain relations were obtained for the three cases of masonry unit modulus to mortar modulus ratio of one, less than one and greater than one. Major conclusions of this extensive experimental study are: (1) when the masonry unit modulus is less than that of the mortar, masonry compressive strength increases as the bond strength increases and the relationship between masonry compressive strength and the bond strength is linear and (2) shear bond strength influences modulus of masonry depending upon relative stiffness of the masonry unit and mortar.