Tensile Strength of Concrete Masonry

Sixty-three masonry disks were tested under splitting loads having different orientations from the bed joint direction. The influences of mortar type, grout strength, and bed joint reinforcement were studied. The results show that the tensile strength characteristics of either ungrouted or grouted masonry vary with the stress orientation that indicates the inherent anisotropic nature of masonry as a composite material. The contribution of grouting varies substantially with the stress orientation. It has a maximum contribution under tension stress normal to the bed joint whereas it has a negligible contribution under tension stress parallel to the bed joint. The mortar type had little influence on the tensile strength. The bed joint reinforcement only contributes to the capacity under tension stresses parallel to the bed joint.