Experimental study of the mechanical behaviour of a new extruded earth block masonry. (30th May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stazi, Francesca; Serpilli, Michele; Chiappini, Gianluca; Pergolini, Marianna; Fratalocchi, Evelina; Lenci, Stefano
• Is Part Of: Construction & building materials. Volume 244(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-05-30
• Subjects: Earth masonry -- Digital image correlation -- Shear behaviour -- Diagonal compression -- Failure mechanism -- Compressive behaviour -- Full-field strain; Building materials -- Periodicals; 624.18
• DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.118368
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0950-0618

Abstract

Highlights: Mechanical properties of 12 masonry wallettes with earth blocks. Compression, diagonal compression and combined shear-compression tests. Digital image correlation (DIC) technique for data-processing. Crack maps and full-field strains maps. Abstract: The aim of this research is to investigate, through the Digital Image Correlation (DIC) technique, the mechanical performance of a new type of earth masonry, built with extruded blocks and characterized by dovetail horizontally staggered bed joints. The experimental program consists of two levels of investigations: (i) preliminary phase on components, (ii) compression, diagonal compression and combined shear-compression tests on 12 wallettes. Regarding the components, results showed that the mean compressive strength of the earth block was low (3.5 MPa) with respect to traditional bricks and similar to adobe blocks. The dovetail joints were effective in their joining role showing a rather good strength (2.4 MPa) when tested in triplet configuration. Regarding the wallettes, the DIC highlighted failure modes complying with the ones of a traditional masonry under shear, while it showed a "column behaviour" with vertical sliding under compressive tests. Fragile failures occurred during the diagonal compression test. DIC revealed to be a promising technique to recover the full-field strain and crack maps.