Abstract

Abstract This paper presents a study of the conformity of structural concrete blocks manufactured and used in masonry construction in Brazil. It is based on compressive strength tests, on dimensional analysis and absorption tests of over six thousand samples from three classes (A, B and C) and two modular sizes (M-15 and M-20). National results show that blocks tend to have an estimated compressive strength higher than specified, except blocks from class A. Regional results show that blocks manufactured in the northeast (NE) are consistently non-conforming, for all block classes. The study also shows that dimensional variations and absorption tests results are within code tolerances.

Highlights

  • This article presents an investigation about the conformity of structural concrete blocks manufactured and used in masonry construction in Brazil

  • This work is based on compressive strength tests, on dimensional analysis and absorption tests performed on structural concrete block samples

  • This situation is directly related to the lower dispersion of the results from the modular size M-20 blocks, since the coefficients of variation of the modular size M-15 blocks are larger

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Summary

Introduction

This article presents an investigation about the conformity of structural concrete blocks manufactured and used in masonry construction in Brazil. This study is based on results from different regions of the country. The entire study is based on current national normalization, especially the codes for simple concrete masonry blocks [1], test methods for simple concrete masonry blocks [2], structural masonry design with concrete blocks [3] and control and execution of structural masonry works with concrete blocks [4]. This research is part of a larger project about the calibration, based on structural reliability, of the partial safety factors of Brazilian design codes. The results of this work serve a larger purpose, there is value in themselves, as they indicate the quality of concrete blocks manufactured in different regions of the country. The number of samples evaluated may not be as large as desired, but this is by far the largest survey about concrete blocks made in Brazil

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