Author

AHMED H. ALWATHAF (1), WALEED A. THANOON (2), MOHD SALEH JAAFAR (2), JAMALODDIN NOORZAEI (2) and MOHD RAZALI ABDUL KADIR (2)

(1) Ph.D. Student, Faculty of Engineering, UPM

(2) Associate Professor, Faculty of Engineering,Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) E-mail: walid@eng.upm.edu.my
Abstract

Recently, interlocking mortarless masonry systems have been developed as an alternative to the conventional masonry system for wall construction. Shear characteristics in an interlocking mortarless block masonry system are yet to be investigated. There is no code provision or design guide available for the design of interlocking and mortarless all system. This paper presents laboratory experiments on the shear characteristics of the interlocking joints in mortarless masonry. Modified triplet tests on mortarless interlocking panels with different levels of axial compression were carried out to ascertain the deformation and shear strength characteristics of the system at the joint interface. A failure criterion for the interlocked bed joints under combined normal-shear load is proposed.