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Cohesive-frictional interface fracture behavior in soft-brick masonry: experimental investigation and theoretical development

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Abstract

An experimental investigation into the shear transfer across the brick mortar interface at different levels of applied pre-compression is reported. Direct shear tests are performed in the triplet test configuration on masonry made with a soft brick. The failure across the brick–mortar interface is progressive and is produced by a crack in the brick–mortar interface. The interface crack propagates in a thin layer where the mortar penetrates the brick. A cohesive-frictional interface relationship which combines progressive cohesive failure with increasing frictional resistance is developed. The maximum shear resistance obtained from the cohesive-frictional relationship follows a Mohr–Coulomb type relationship. The residual frictional resistance increases linearly with an increase in the applied compression.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, I.I.T. Hyderabad, Hyderabad, Telangana, India

    Mehar Babu Ravula & Kolluru V. L. Subramaniam

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  1. Mehar Babu Ravula
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  2. Kolluru V. L. Subramaniam
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Correspondence to Kolluru V. L. Subramaniam.

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Ravula, M.B., Subramaniam, K.V.L. Cohesive-frictional interface fracture behavior in soft-brick masonry: experimental investigation and theoretical development. Mater Struct 52, 34 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-019-1333-1

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