Author
A. H. P. MAURENBRECHER National Research Council of Canada

Abstract
Small hollow block wallettes subjected to an eccentric compressive load (out of plane) show unexpectedly low failure loads when the eccentricities at the top and bottom of the wallette are different. Except in one case, tests from other sources on both wallette and full-scale walls do not show this reduction. This paper reviews the test results and factors which may contribute to the low observed strength. Such factors are load eccentricity, height of specimen, mortar bedding, type of capping and failure mode. It is concluded that the capping and the mortar bedding can have a large effect on the strength of short masonry specimens.