Influence of joint thickness and strength of mortars on the compressive behavior of prisms made of normal and high-strength concrete blocks

• Published in: Construction & building materials Vol. 234; p. 117419
• Main Authors: Caldeira, Filipe Emerick, Nalon, Gustavo Henrique, Oliveira, Diôgo Silva de, Pedroti, Leonardo Gonçalves, Ribeiro, José Carlos Lopes, Ferreira, Flávio Antônio, Carvalho, José Maria Franco de
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 20-02-2020
• Subjects: High-strength blocks; Joint thickness; Masonry structures; Preblended and site-mixed mortars; Masonry structures; High-strength blocks; Joint thickness; Preblended and site-mixed mortars
• ISSN: 0950-0618; 1879-0526
• DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.117419

•Effects of joint thickness on masonry made of units considerably weaker than mortars and vice-versa.•Impact of joint thickness on masonry produced with job site mixed and preblended mortars.•Influence of joint thickness on the behavior of masonry made of high-strength concrete blocks.
This work developed compression tests of 120 prisms in order to investigate the influence of joint thickness and compressive strength of job-site mixed and preblended mortars on strength and stiffness of masonry made of normal and high-strength concrete blocks. Experimental results distinguish the effects of joint thickness on the behavior of prisms made of units considerably weaker than mortars and vice versa. Comparisons between the effects of joint thickness on prisms made of job site mixed and preblended mortars were firstly stablished. Results also show that the impacts of joint thickness are significantly greater in elements constructed with high-strength blocks.