Author

A.T.VERMELTFOORT University of Technology Eindhoven
Abstract

The design of loadbearing masonry structures requires a detailed knowledge of the mechanical properties of the bricks for the project under consideration. Loadbearing masonry is largely subjected to compressive forces. However, modern design methods also require input for the brick properties under tension, bending, and shear. This paper compares the properties of two types of extruded bricks and four types of soft mud bricks of varying compressive strengths. The results obtained show that the modulus of elasticity of the units that were investigated is approximately 400 times their compressive strength. Various methods to determine compressive strengths produced a coefficient of variation (cv) of approximately 10% while various methods of tensile tests showed this coefficient to be approximately 25%. The paper concludes that test results are influenced by both the test method and the dimensions of the test specimen.