The Shear Strength of Dry-Stacked Masonry Walls

Gero Marzahn1

SUMMARY Similar to normal masonry with mortar bedding, dry-stacked masonry must be designed to withstand shear forces generated from impact loading. The shear strength of masonry in general is influenced by several factors, the most important being the joint friction and the unit tensile strength. With reference to the mechanical basis, the principles of the shearing behaviour of mortarless masonry structures are explained, and the importance of precompression is emphasized. A test procedure to determine the shear strength of mortarless masonry is introduced, and important parameters on the shear strength are given. Since the unit tensile strength and the friction coefficient are essential for the shear resistance, the way how to obtain these is described separately.

INTRODUCTION

Bearing walls may designed to carry in-plane horizontal loads, induced by wind, bracing effects or earthquake, they are transferred to the walls primarily via diaphragms such as floors or roofs.

Dipl.-Ing., Institut fr Massivbau und Baustofftechnologie, Universitt Leipzig

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LACER No. 3, 1998 Characteristic values of the shear strength for design purposes of masonry structures with mortar bedding are regulated by design codes. For dry-stacked masonry a design code does not exist. Hence, the shearing behaviour of mortarless masonry structures have to be investigated to provide strength values. Thus the trust in and the application of mortarless structures in practice will be promoted. In addition, the undertaken tests are able to contribute towards a better understanding of the carrying behaviour of shear walls. This chapter deals only with the effect of static loads on shear walls. The behaviour under seismic or dynamic loading is not treated.

LOAD BEARING BEHAVIOUR OF MASONRY WALLS SUBJECTED TO INPLANE LOADS The Resistance of Masonry to Shear

2.1

As mentioned above, the shear strength of masonry may be a limiting factor in design. Therefore, the shearing capacity is often a subject of research. Different theories were published, one of them being the theory by Mann and Mller [1], which is acknowledged and well-known in application. Shear stresses are often applied to masonry in conjunction with normal stresses. The different failure behaviour which can occur under horizontal and vertical stresses is depicted in fig. 1.

Fig. 1:

Masonry shear wall failure modes a) sliding failure b) flexural failure c) shear failure

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The Shear Strength of Dry-Stacked Masonry Walls Shear walls subjected to horizontal in-plane loads may fail in one of three ways: Sliding failure is defined as the horizontal movement of entire parts of the wall on the a single brick layer, vapour barrier or mortar bed; Flexural failure, where the wall behaves as a vertical cantilever under lateral bending and, either cracking in the masonry tension zone (opening of bed joints) or crushing at the wall toe will limit the bearing capacity; Shear failure is characterized by a critical combination of principal tensile and compressive stresses as a result of applying combined shear and compression, and leads to typical diagonal cracks. In practice mainly two types of shear cracking can be observed, joint cracking by local sliding along the bed joint and diagonal cracking associated with cracks running through the bricks as well as the joints. Both kinds of shear failure must be considered in design. Shear failure mainly occurs if the ratio of height to length of the wall is relatively low, but this is a common situation in practice. Mann and Mller [1] investigated the failure criteria and showed that the level of the compression stress is essential for the failure mode. Assuming that the perpend joints do not transmit any shear stresses due to the lack of mortar or inaccurate fitting of the brick heads, additional axial stresses formed like a stair keep the equilibrium of the unit (fig. 2). Depending on the normal stress level four failure areas are differentiated.

= 2 x

Fig. 2:

Stress distribution on a single unit of a masonry wall and enveloping breaking stresses [1]

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LACER No. 3, 1998 The most often used failure criterion under moderate vertical compression is of the Coulomb type:

f v = f vo + n
where: fv is the shear strength of masonry related to the bed joint area; fvo is the shear strength at zero compression;
is the actual friction coefficient in mortar-brick-interface; n is the compressive stress perpendicular to the bed joint.

Due to the absence of mortar, dry-stacked masonry structures only provide the friction resistance of normal stress multiplied with the friction coefficient. The shear wall is going to fail if the summarized shear stresses exceed the friction force in the bed joint, and the units will locally slid along their bed (fig. 3).

Fig. 3:

Stepping failure or joint slipping

It was found that the linear Coulomb type is valid for lower axial stresses: n 2 MPa [4]. In case of higher axial loads masonry walls may fail although the friction resistance is not activated in full amount. The failure is due to the principal tensile stress reaching the diagonal tensile strength of the units, and inducing the units to crack. Cracks develop along the edges of the head joints and extend through the units above and below, hence a stepped failure diagonal to the sides can be observed (fig. 4). Therefore, the tensile strength of the units also influences the shear strength, but this behaviour is strongly non-linear.

f f v = bt 1 + n 0,45 f bt 1 + n 2,3 f bt f bt
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The Shear Strength of Dry-Stacked Masonry Walls where: fv is the shear strength of masonry related to the bed joint area; fbt is the tensile strength of units parallel to the unit length
n is the compressive stress perpendicular to the bed joint.

Fig. 4:

Cracking of units

2.2

Characteristic and Design Shear Strength

Interlocking mortarless or dry-stacked masonry is not covered by a German or European Masonry Standard, therefore only regulations for masonry with mortar joints can be indicated. But the mechanical basis of the equations allow to deduce the general failure behaviour of mortarless masonry structures under consideration of the additional specification of this type of masonry observed in test procedures. The characteristic shear strength of masonry is mainly influenced by several factors which include the direction of applied shear (in-plane and out of plane direction), the strength of units, the normal stress in the joints (axial stresses due to preloading and self weight) and the mortar quality. Considering the different failure modes of unreinforced masonry using general purpose mortar and having the perpend joints unfilled, the characteristic values of shear strength include both the partly sliding failure of bed joints and the tensile failure of units as governing criteria:

f vk = 0,5 f vko + 0,4 d f vk = 0,045 f b ( 0,45 f btk 1 + d f btk )

where: fvk

sliding failure tensile failure

is the characteristic shear strength of masonry; 251

LACER No. 3, 1998 fvko

d

is the characteristic shear strength of masonry under zero compressive load (bond shear strength in mortar-unit-interface); is the design vertical compressive stress; is the characteristic tensile strength of the masonry units; is the normalized compressive strength of the masonry units.

fbtk fb

The lower value is the limiting resistance and must be observed. In both direction in-plane and out of plane the German Design Code of Masonry Structures DIN 1053 [6] as well as the European Standard EC 6 [8] allow the increase in shear strength due to the friction acting in the bed joints to take into account the friction depending on the normal stress and the internal friction coefficient . Dry-stacked masonry structures behave similar, but the resisting parts of mortar do not exist. Concerning the mechanical basis the shear strength of mortarless walls must meet the governing criteria for firstly sliding failure in bed joints and secondly tensile failure of units:

f vk = d f vk = f b = 0,45 f tbk 1 + d f tbk

where:

sliding failure tensile failure

is the internal friction coefficient; ratio of characteristic tensile strength to normalized compressive strength of units.

The normal stress is generated by both the dead and the imposed loads if the imposed loads are permanent. The worst conditions must be considered. In shearing tests on brick triplets (see section 3.3) could be observed that for the friction coefficient between the bed surfaces of the unit a value of 0,70 for calcium silicates (CS) and 0,90 for autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) may be used. The factor (x/(2y)) must be multiplied with and takes into account the unequal distribution of normal stresses due to the internal bending moment (x=unit height, y=unit length) (see [6]. The average ratio of tensile to normalized compressive strength of the solid units may be indicated with 0,045 for CS and 0,130 for AAC.

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The Shear Strength of Dry-Stacked Masonry Walls The design shear strength is then obtained by reducing the characteristic strength by an appropriate partial, and is given by the formula fvk/, where is the partial safety factor.

TEST RESULTS FOR SHEAR STRENGTH OF DRY-STACKED MASONRY WALLS

As was mentioned above and described in the design bases for mortarless masonry structures there are two decisive parameter influencing the shearing capacity: the tensile strength of units and the effictive friction coefficient between two unit layers. Tests to determine these parameters were carried out as preliminary tests. 3.1 Unit Material Properties

Several tests on single units were carried out to investigate the characteristic properties. This section deals with the investigation according to testing standards
Table 1: Material properties

Property Length Width Height Gross Density Compressive strength Splitting tensile strength Axial tensile strength Intern. friction coefficient Modulus of elasticity mm mm mm kg/dm3 N/mm
2

CS 1 499 240 238 1,90 26,30 1,19 1,42 0,70 10088

CS 2 498 240 248 1,86 22,24 0,92 1,47

AAC 1 500 240 199 0,54 4,03 0,36 0,91

AAC 2 599 240 199 0,42 3,21 -0,46

N/mm2 N/mm -N/mm2

2

0,90 9908 1938 1516

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LACER No. 3, 1998 [5, 7] as well as properties obtained by using developed or recommended arrangements [2, 9]. Since the friction coefficient and the tensile strength are essential for the shear resistance, the way how to observe these properties is explained separately. The units we used were made of solid calcium silicate (CS) and autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) as well, and correspond to German compressive strength classification (CS 1=KS 20, CS 2=KS 12, AAC 1=PP 4, AAC 2=PP 2). The average values of several properties of CS and AAC are indicated in table 1. 3.2 Internal Friction Coefficient

According to the Coulomb criterion, the shear strength increases as the axial compression ratio increases, and the correlated curve of combined shearcompression stresses is uniformly ascending. The increment corresponds to the friction coefficient. Therefore, tests in shear compression state under static loading and under different axial compression ratios are essential and were executed to obtain the friction coefficient. The application of shear stress to masonry specimen without significant bending is very difficult. A study of several methods used for testing showed that the test set-up according to prEN 1052-3 [9] is able to reduce the bending stresses to a minimum (fig. 5) if some recommendations of Riddington [2] are followed. It should be mentioned that this arrangement formed as a brick triplet is independent of the brick shape and size as well as reproducible in a simple manner. In order to reduce the eccentricity of the shear force to the joint furthermore [2, 11], the loading on the bottom was applied with steel stripes near the joints.

Fig. 5:

Test set-up to determine the internal friction coefficient between the brick layers

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The Shear Strength of Dry-Stacked Masonry Walls The experiments show that the observed friction behaviour follows the linear Coulomb type, and is only determined by precompression perpendicular to the bedding area as well as by the unit material. Consequently, the internal friction coefficient can be assumed for each type of brickwork as a constant value, which differs from 0,70 for CS to 0,90 for AAC (table 2). The tests were carried out with non-treated CS and AAC units which differ in size and compressive strength, but the bedding area of each unit was even and smooth as a result of the manufacturing process. Commonly this types of units is used in thin layer joint masonry structures.
Table 2: Test results for the internal friction coefficient

Unit

Precompression N/mm2

Shear strength N/mm2 0,15 / 0,35 / 0,71 0,12 / 0,33 / 0,70 0,17 / 0,44 / 0,72 0,19 / 0,48 / 0,68

Average friction coefficient -0,731 0,748 0,928 0,948

CS 1-1 / 2 / 3 CS 2-1 / 2 / 3 AAC 1-1 / 2 / 3 AAC 2-1 / 2 / 3

0,20 / 0,49 / 0,98 0,18 / 0,47 / 0,94 0,17 / 0,46 / 0,77 0,17 / 0,48 / 0,69

Fig. 6:

Shearing test results on masonry triplets

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LACER No. 3, 1998 In the German Standard [6] the friction coefficient is indicated as 0,60 for all types of units and materials. In fig. 6 the test results are represented. 3.3 Axial Tensile Strength of Units

The tensile strength may be a dominant factor in resisting to shear, especially if the precompression degree exceeds a specific level. This leads to the failure of shear walls is characterized by cracking of units, because the principal tensile stresses as a result of applied shear and compressive stresses achieve the unit tensile strength faster than the friction due to high precompression. Hence, it was necessary to determine the tensile strength in axial strain tests of cylindrical specimen (height/diameter=100/100 mm), which were drilled out of the units. Although the cracks occur in a inclined direction, the strength in the direction of the unit length was measured, because the tensile strength is not influenzed by the measuring direction due to the homogenous material of both units. A hinged supported specimen before and after testing is shown in fig. 7.

Fig. 7:

Specimen before and after testing of axial tensile strength

Corresponding to the measured tensile strength the characteristic values (5% fractile) are given in table 3 as well as the ratio of characteristic tensile strength ftb 0,05 to normalized compressive strength of a masonry unit fb. 256

The Shear Strength of Dry-Stacked Masonry Walls

Table 3: Test results for evaluated axial tensile strength of units

Unit CS 1 - 1 CS 1 - 2 CS 1 - 3 CS 2 - 1 CS 2 - 2 CS 2 - 3 AAC 1 - 1 AAC 1 - 2 AAC 1 - 3 AAC 2 - 1 AAC 2 - 2 AAC 2 - 3

Single Strength ftb,i in N/mm2 1,77 1,33 1,15 1,55 1,41 1,45 0,88 0,96 0,87 0,51 0,48 0,40

Average value 5% Fractile ftb in N/mm2 ftb 0,05 in N/mm2

Ratio ftb 0,05 / fb

1,42

1,14

0,043

1,47

1,21

0,054

0,91

0,74

0,183

0,46

0,28

0,087

In the German Standard [6] the strength ratio of tensile to compressive strength is limited to 0,040 for solid units independently of the material. 3.4 Development of Experimental Set-up

Many tests on masonry samples or small masonry walls have been undertaken, very often using diagonal compression loading as shown in fig. 8, to provide combined shear and compression on the mortar beds. The recommendations of RILEM [10] and ASTM [12] describe such an inclined compressive loading masonry element in order to estimate the diagonal tensile strength.

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LACER No. 3, 1998

Fig. 8:

Diagonal compression test

To develop a suitable test set-up it is essential to know how the shear stress is generated and distributed. The elastic theory, although strictly applicable to homogenous material can be used for uncracked masonry with only certain reservations. The theory expresses that the shear stresses reach their maximum at an square element without prestressing at the centroidal axis, and the shear stresses generate principal stresses. The principal stresses, one compressive and the other tensile, are inclined by 45 to the longitudinal axis and the bed joint, respectively. Their values are equal to the shear stresses (fig. 9).

Fig. 9:

Homogenous element subjected to pure shear

It is assumed that the failure will occur if the principal tensile stress reaches the diagonal tensile strength of the masonry covering both the sliding failure in bed joints and the cracking of units.

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The Shear Strength of Dry-Stacked Masonry Walls In principle, a standard test in Germany with masonry walls made of unusual or large-size units subjected to shear in order to find out the permissive or characteristic values of masonry shear strength [3] is based on this behaviour. Similar to this arrangement a square shaped wall is formed with a side length of 2,50 m, prestressed in order to generate the joint friction with suitable amount, and subjected to shear by applying a inclined shear force. The experimental setup is shown in fig. 10.
precompression shear force

Epoxy glued concrete beam

Epoxy glued concrete beam

Epoxy glued concrete beam

Fig. 10:

Test set-up for full-scale shearing tests on a mortarless masonry wall

The masonry wall is erected in a mortarless manner with a unit overlapping of a half unit length in each layer to ensure a horizontal load transmission. At two opposite corners of the wall, the diagonal directed shear force is applied and splitted up into a horizontal and a vertical compressive load, which are transferred via epoxy glued concrete beams to the masonry plane as pure shear stresses. An external precompression of the wall using hydraulic cylinders on the top substitutes a post-tensioning by internal wires, which is necessary in practice.

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Epoxy glued concrete beam

LACER No. 3, 1998 3.5 The Need and the Methods of Post-Tensioning

The shear strength of mortarless masonry is very low compared to its compressive strength. As a result it cannot be used for flexural members, which cause additionally shear stresses in the wall section, as well as for shear walls, which are subjected to pure shear due to bracing forces or earthquake. This deficiency can be compensated by additional compressive stresses normal to the bedding area of the units, efficiently done by prestressing. Prestressing, usually achieved by post-tensioning, takes advantage of the compressive strength of masonry and improves the carrying behaviour by reducing or eliminating tensile stresses, bending cracks, and enhancing the friction resistance in the bed joints to a required amount. The methods of prestressing are similar to those of concrete, but unbonded posttensioning is most often used in practice. The tendons or wires are tensioned against the masonry and anchored by special anchoring devices like special designed concrete blocks or steel plates. The tendons and anchorage elements used are protected against corrosion with plastic coats. 3.6 Mortarless Walls subjected to Shear Loads

In order to obtain characteristic values of shear strength for mortarless masonry structures it is necessary to carry out full scale tests where dry-stacked walls are going to be subjected to shear under different magnitudes of precompression. As already mentioned high axial loads strengthen the joints, particularly the horizontal ones, to such an extent that the tensile strength of the units can be weaker than the friction strength of the joints. Therefore, in the same test series the precompression loading will be carefully applied in a desirable amount to gain both failure modes: the partly sliding failure of joints and the cracking of units. Currently the preparations for the shear tests are being made. For example, corresponding to precalculations it is estimated that a sliding failure will occur at a precompression up to about 720 kN for CS 2 and 300 kN for AAC 1, which is equivalent to an inclined shear force of 712,8 kN for CS 2 and 386,1 kN for AAC 1.

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The Shear Strength of Dry-Stacked Masonry Walls 4 CONCLUSION AND OUTLOOK

Regarding the theory by Mann and Mller [1] the basis of shearing behaviour of masonry can be adapted for the description of how does the dry-stacked masonry behave under in-plane loads. The relevant parameters both friction and unit tensile strength are presented, and are additionally investigated in several tests. By means of the introduced full-scale test set-up for masonry walls under in-plane loads it will be possible to obtain relevant shear strength values. The test results will show whether the theory covers the real behaviour, or how it should be developed for an acceptable approach.

REFERENCES

[1] Mann, W.; Mller,H.: Schubtragfhigkeit von gemauerten Wnden und Voraussetzungen fr das Entfallen des Windnachweises. MauerwerkKalender, Verlag Ernst & Sohn, 1985 [2] Riddington, J.R. et. al: A comparison between panel, joint and code shear strength. 10th IBMaC, Calgary, 1994 [3] Schubert, P.: Zur Schubfestigkeit von Mauerwerk. Mauerwerk-Kalender, Verlag Ernst & Sohn, 1998 [4] Wankang, Luo et. al: Stress correlation combined shear-compression of brick masonry and the determining of friction coefficient. 11th IBMaC, Shanghai, 1997 [5] DIN 106-1: Kalksandsteine. Ausgabe 09/1980 [6] DIN 1053-1: Mauerwerk. Ausgabe 11/1996 [7] DIN 4165: Gasbeton-Blocksteine und Gasbeton-Plansteine. Ausg. 10/1986 [8] DIN V ENV 1996-1-1: Bemessung und Konstruktion von Mauerwerksbauten. Ausgabe 12/1996 [9] prEN 1052-3: Methods of tests for masonry. Draft for public comment, 1996 [10] RILEM: Test of small walls and prism - Diagonal tensile strength, 1988 [11] RILEM TC 127-MS: Tests for masonry materials and structures. Materials and Structures, Vol. 29, Oct. 1996 [12] ASTM E 519-81: Standard test method for diagonal tension (shear) in masonry assemblages, 1981 261

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