Masonry Properties (Cont.

)
Lecture 4
Prof. Dr Abdulmalek Al-Jolahy
MASONRY PROPERTIES

 Compressive strength
 Shear strength
 Flexural strength
 Tensile strength
 Modulus of elasticity
 Creep, Moisture Movement and Thermal Expansion

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 CHARACTERISTIC SHEAR STRENGTH OF MASONRY
 The shear strength of masonry is important when considering wall
panels subject to lateral forces and structural forms such as diaphragm
and fin walls.
 Shear failure is most likely to be due to in-plane horizontal shear forces;
see Figure (a), particularly at the level of damp-proof courses.
 In diaphragm and fin walls there is the possibility of vertical shear
failure between the transverse ribs and flanges during bending; see
Figure (b).

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Diaphragm Wall
Fin Wall

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 CHARACTERISTIC SHEAR STRENGTH OF MASONRY

 The strength of masonry in shear is of importance in relation to the resistance of

buildings to lateral forces.
 The characteristic initial shear strength of masonry, 𝑓𝑓𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑜𝑜 , shall be determined
from tests in accordance with EN 1052-3 or EN 1052-4.
 The characteristic shear strength of masonry, 𝑓𝑓𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣 , using general purpose mortar
or thin layer mortar may be taken from:
𝑓𝑓𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣 = 𝑓𝑓𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣o + 0.4𝜎𝜎𝑑𝑑 (3.5),

but not greater than 0,065 𝑓𝑓𝑏𝑏 or 𝑓𝑓𝑣𝑣𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 , where,

𝑓𝑓𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣o is the characteristic initial shear strength, under zero compressive stress;
𝑓𝑓𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣 is a limit to the value of 𝑓𝑓𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣 ;
𝜎𝜎𝑑𝑑 is the design compressive stress perpendicular to the shear in the member at
the level under consideration,
𝑓𝑓𝑏𝑏 is the normalised compressive strength of the masonry units. 5
TYPICAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SHEAR STRENGTH OF BRICKWORK
AND VERTICAL PRECOMPRESSION FROM TEST RESULTS

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 The characteristic shear strength of masonry having the perpend joints unfilled, but
with adjacent faces of the masonry units closely abutted together, may be taken
from equation (3.6).
𝑓𝑓𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣 = 0.5 𝑓𝑓𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣o + 0.4𝜎𝜎𝑑𝑑 (3.6), but not greater than 0,045 𝑓𝑓𝑏𝑏 or 𝑓𝑓𝑣𝑣𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙
 In shell bedded masonry, where the units are bedded on two or more equal strips of
general purpose mortar, each at least 30 mm in width, 𝑓𝑓𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣 may be taken from
equation (3.7).
g
𝑓𝑓𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣 = 𝑓𝑓𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣 + 0.4𝜎𝜎𝑑𝑑 (3.7) ,
𝑡𝑡
but not greater than that would be obtained from the above
(equation 3.6 or 0,045 𝑓𝑓𝑏𝑏 or 𝑓𝑓𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣 ).
Where:
g is the total of the widths of the mortar strips;
t is the thickness of the wall.
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 Table 3.4:

The initial shear strength of

the masonry 𝑓𝑓𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣 , may be
determined from the values
given in table 3.4, provided
that general purpose mortars
made in accordance with EN
1996-2 do not contain
admixtures or additives.

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 The vertical shear resistance of the junction of two masonry walls may be
obtained from suitable tests or may be based on𝑓𝑓𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣 , provided that the
connection between the walls is in accordance with 8.5.2.1 (EN1996-
1.1:2005).
8.5.2 Connection between walls: 8.5.2.1 Intersections
 Intersecting loadbearing walls shall be joined together so that the required
vertical and lateral loads can be transferred between them.
 The joint at the intersection of walls should be made either by:
masonry bond (see 8.1.4), or connectors or reinforcement extending into each
wall.

 Intersecting loadbearing walls should be erected simultaneously 9

3.6.3 CHARACTERISTIC FLEXURAL STRENGTH OF MASONRY
In relation to out-of plane bending (and due to the non-isotropic nature of masonry),
the following situations should be considered:
 Flexural strength having a plane of failure parallel to the bed-joints, 𝑓𝑓𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥1 ;
 Flexural strength having a plane of failure perpendicular to the bedjoints, 𝑓𝑓𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥2 .

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 The characteristic flexural strength of masonry, fxk1 and fxk2, may be
determined from tests in accordance with EN 1052-2, or it may be from the
following tables provided that thin layer mortar and lightweight mortars are
M5, or stronger.
 For masonry made with autoclaved aerated concrete units laid in thin layer
mortar, 𝑓𝑓𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥1 and 𝑓𝑓𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥2 values may be taken from the tables or from the
following equations:
𝑓𝑓𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥1 = 0,035 𝑓𝑓𝑏𝑏 , with filled and unfilled perpend joints,
𝑓𝑓𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥2 = 0,035 𝑓𝑓𝑏𝑏 , with filled perpend joints or 0,025 𝑓𝑓𝑏𝑏 , with unfilled
perpend joints.
 The flexural strength in both directions is dependent on the strength of the
mortar used and in particular the adhesion between the units and the mortar.

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NOTE 4: 𝑓𝑓𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥2 should not be taken to be greater than the flexural strength of the unit. 13
 TENSILE STRENGTH

 Direct tensile stresses can arise in masonry as a result

of in-plane loading effects.
 These may be caused by wind, by eccentric gravity
loads, by thermal or moisture movements or by
foundation movement.
 The tensile resistance of masonry is low and therefore
it is generally ignored in design.
 BS 5628:2005 in Clause 20.1 indicates that a designer
is permitted to assume 50% of the flexural strength
values given in Table 3 of BS5628 (parallel to bed
joints) when considering direct tension induced by
suction forces arising from wind loads on roof
structures, or by the probable effects of misuse or
accidental damage.
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3.7 DEFORMATION PROPERTIES OF MASONRY
3.7.1 Stress-strain relationship
The stress-strain relationship of masonry in compression is non-linear and may be taken as linear,
parabolic, parabolic rectangular (see figure 3.2) or as rectangular, for the purposes of designing a
masonry section (see 6.6.1(1)).
NOTE: The Figure below is an approximation and may not be suitable for all types of masonry units.

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 3.7.2 MODULUS OF ELASTICITY
 The short term secant modulus of elasticity, E, shall be determined by tests in
accordance with EN 1052-1.
 In the absence of a value determined by test, E, for use in structural analysis,
may be taken to be1000 𝑓𝑓𝑘𝑘 .
 The long term modulus should be based on the short term secant value,
reduced to allow for creep effects:
𝐸𝐸
𝐸𝐸long term =
1 + ∅∞
where:
∅∞ is the final creep coefficient
3.7.3 SHEAR MODULUS
 The shear modulus, G, may be taken as 40 % of the elastic modulus, E. 16
3.7.4 CREEP, MOISTURE EXPANSION OR SHRINKAGE AND
THERMAL EXPANSION

Coefficients of creep, moisture expansion or

shrinkage and thermal expansion shall be
determined by test.
NOTE: No European test method to determine
creep or moisture expansion for masonry
currently exists.
NOTE: Ranges of values for the deformation
properties of masonry are given in the table
below. Volume change

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APPROXIMATE VALUES TO BE USED IN THE CALCULATION OF CREEP, SHRINKAGE AND
THERMAL EFFECTS (DESIGN OF MASONRY STRUCTURES - A.W.HENDRY)

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 EN 1996-2: 2006
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS, SELECTION OF MATERIALS AND EXECUTION OF MASONRY

 Masonry movement, EN 1996-2:2006 (clause 2.3.3)

 Movement Joints, EN 1996-2:2006 (clause 2.3.4)
Maximum recommended horizontal distance, lm,, between vertical movement Movement joint
joints for unreinforced, non-loadbearing walls.
Movement joints, also known as
expansion, contraction or control
joints, are placed in masonry walls to
accommodate the natural expansion
and contraction of building materials.

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