Author

A. W. PAGE*, N. G. SHRIVE# & E. L. JESSOP#
* University of Newcastle, Australia #University ofCalgary, Canada

Abstract

Masonry design codes typically allow the enhancement of masonry strength beneath a concentrated load due to the strengthening effect of the more lightly stressed surrounding material. This has been verified for solid masonry, but its applicability to face-shell-bedded hollow masonry is open to question since failure occurs by splitting of the webs, rather than by vertical cracking. In a preliminary experimental study 55 wallettes constructed from hollow units of both concrete and clay were subjected to axial concentrated load, either concentrically or eccentrically across the wall thickness. Wallettes incorporating 3 bond beam types with a range of grout strengths, were tested as well as plain masonry. The results are presented and the design implications discussed.