ABSTRACT
This paper is focused on the determination of the compressive constitutive law of adobe masonry from experimental tests. Compression tests of specimens of several shapes and size of adobe, as well as small adobe masonry wall panels were carried out. During the tests, the compressive load is monotonic until failure and it is applied through a testing machine. The compressive strength, Young modulus and the compressive stress-strain constitutive law are obtained from the tests. The paper analyzes the dispersion and consistency between different types of tests. The obtained results can be useful for the development of standards that define a methodology for the determination of the actual mechanical behavior of adobe masonry from simple tests, predict the actual behavior of adobe masonry for an adequate rehabilitation and retrofitting of existing buildings, or the design of new adobe constructions.
