ABSTRACT
As the material model should be suitable for a wide range of brick types, a large amount of experimental data for bricks was collected. Although test data of static experiments on masonry specimens exist, there is little data available for the individual components brick and mortar. In the past, static tests have been performed on masonry specimens in order to determine the maximum bearing capacity. But the properties of the components are not reported or not tested at all. Nevertheless, there are some publications that deliver detailed information about bricks. Vermeltfoort & Pluijm (1991) and Pluijm (1992) carried out static tests in order to determine the tensile strength of mortar joints, the compressive and tensile strength of different types of bricks, and they determined Young’s moduli for both materials. Sarangapani et al. 2005 studied the bond between brick and mortar and published data for Indian mortar and bricks. Schubert (2005), Schubert (2007) and Brameshuber et al. (2006) assembled further data, especially for typical German masonry materials. Masonry bricks can be made of, e.g., adobe, clay, clinker, concrete or calcium silicate. Consequently, the uniaxial compressive strength of masonry units can range from 3 to 100 MPa. In addition, there are more and more highly sophisticated masonry units with voids and internal thermal insulation in order to provide a better thermal insulation. Another challenge is the analysis of the results of the experiments, because testing methods show an important influence on the results of the tests. Here, it was discovered a lack of standardization in material testing.
