Effect of concrete block height variation to the shear bond strength of thin layer mortared masonry

Abstract

Thin layered masonry employs thin mortar joints laid with minimally skilled masons. However, the applicability of this masonry system relies on units made with tighter control of their height. The standard unit height variation is tolerated up to ±2.5 mm, suitable for 10 mm thick conventional masonry. The units of such variation in height cannot, obviously, be employed in the construction of the thin layer mortared masonry. This paper addresses the effect of the variation of the height of the concrete blocks to the shear bond characteristics of thin layer mortared concrete masonry through experimental program and numerical investigations. The results have exhibited that the variability in the height of the units can adversely influence the shear bond strength of the masonry. Variation of height more than ±1 mm from a standard unit height is shown structurally detrimental.