Author
F.M. KHALAF
Napier University, Edinburgh

Abstract
BS5628 describes the testing of brick wallettes under four point loading as a standard test for the determination of flexural bond strength of masonry bed joints. The test provides an index of wall strength derived from its flexural performance. The difficulty with the BS5628 method is the large sample needed for the test and the test set-up that makes it a cumbersome test to perform. The paper presents a new test method to determine the flexural bond strength by bending. The sample was constructed from two brick units in a Z-shaped configuration and a tensile failure was induced by a three point loading. Testing was conducted to establish the brick/mortar flexural bond strength for cases where the plane of failure is parallel to bed joints. Three different types of day brick, one calcium silicate brick and three different types of mortar were used in the experimental programme.