ABSTRACT
This chapter presents flexural bending tests according to EN 1052-2 on thermal insulating clay unit walls in the context of the European research project INSYSME. Flexural strength tests were performed on walls with planes of failure parallel to the bed joints. Small scale material tests have been carried out to determine the physical and mechanical properties of the brick units and mortars used. In masonry with low strength units and greater tensile bond strength between the bed joint mortar and the unit, failure may occur in the axis of unit height as a result of stresses exceeding unit tensile strength. The brick units differ in regards to the geometry, the position of the webs, the percentage of voids and the geometry of the perforation. Several different types of clay units and different types of thin layer mortar were used in the experimental program.
