Stress-strain curves of Cellular Light Weight Concrete Brick and masonry

Abstract

Masonry panels are commonly used in buildings construction in most parts of the world. Brick's characteristics, such as strength, thermal insulation and sound insulation, determine the uses of bricks in buildings. Therefore, brick industry is always seeking for enhancing brick's characteristics and producing new types. Accordingly, several types of bricks were developed, such as cellular lightweight concrete (CLC) bricks. CLC bricks proved promising benefits in various applications in buildings construction. In this regard, this study investigates CLC brick's mechanical properties. An experimental program was conducted according to ASTM and British standards to obtain the essential in-plane mechanical properties of CLC bricks and masonry panels, such as compressive strength, tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, Poisson's ratio and bond strength between brick and mortar. The object of this study is to provide the needed mechanical properties for numerical modelling used in analysing the behaviour of different elements (i.e., constructed from CLC bricks). This study shows that CLC bricks give a good performance regarding loads resistance because of its ductile behaviour. Consequently, it enhances the flexibility and ductility of buildings, which allows the absorption of most of the loads' energy. Moreover, it is a light type of bricks.