Author
KUBICA, J.
Silesian University of Technology, Department of Structural Engineering

Abstract
A comparative study on behaviour of masonry walls built of AAC solid blocks and with thin joints in case of fully filled and unfilled head (perpend) joints and subjected to axial compression is presented and analysed in this paper. Based on experimental data obtained from tests on two series of axially compressed specimens the influence of not filling head joints on stress-strain relationship, compressive strength, modulus of elasticity and Poisson’s ratio in correlation with standards’ recommendations is analysed. In the case of masonry walls made of AAC blocks with thin bed joints and either filled, or unfilled perpend joints, investigations show no significant differences between behaviour of such made specimens subjected to axial compression. Both types of masonry wallettes were characterized by close to straight linear-elastic stress-strain relationships. Moreover, failure occurred suddenly – as in case of typical brittle material. In the investigations the influence of unfilled perpend joints on compressive strength and modulus of elasticity also was not significant.

Key words
AAC blocks; thin joints; axially compression; compressive strength; stress – strain relationship; modulus of elasticity; Poisson’s ratio