OLIVEIRA, L.M.F.1; CORRÊA, M.R.S.2

1) PhD Student, School of Engineering of São Carlos, University of São Paulo, Av. Trabalhador Saocarlense, 400, 13566-590, São Carlos-SP, Brazil, filizola@sc.usp.br

2) Professor, School of Engineering of São Carlos, University of São Paulo, Av. Trabalhador Saocarlense, 400, 13566-590, São Carlos-SP, Brazil, mcorrea@sc.usp.br

This paper deals with a series of tests aimed at the mechanical characterization of masonry specimens. Tests on prisms and H-shaped specimens were carried out considering both clay and concrete blocks, all with face shell bedding. All the tests were performed according to Brazilian, European and Australian codes. The experimental results obtained are: initial shear of bed joints, shear in the vertical interfaces of interconnected walls and the flexural strength of joints. Those experimental results are compared to the characteristic values prescribed by some international codes, to evaluate the accuracy of the strength parameters related to joints, such as the flexural bond strength, the internal friction coefficient, the cohesion and the shear strength of the vertical interfaces.

Keywords: concrete blocks, clay blocks, joints, shear, face shell bedding, interconnected walls, shear strength, flexural strength.