The shear strength of masonry is the function of many factors, but current research indicates that bond quality is the primary factor. The bond strength is a key parameter representing structural integrity and water-tightness of the masonry system. However, masonry is characterized by low bond strength, and is quite a complex material to analyse due to its inherent variations. The quality of the bond is reliant on, the weather, the quality of the workmanship and the quality of materials used. Therefore, this study investigated ways of improving the bond performance of mortar joints by the use of admixtures as well as examining the efficacy of Acoustic Emission (AE) techniques in monitoring fracture mechanisms. Laboratory based Acoustic Emission (AE) monitory techniques were used on masonry triplets under static and repeated shear loading, in order to investigate the shear bond strength characteristics, and to identify a mortar that will exhibit the long-term properties needed for a masonry structure to be subjected to cyclic loading, such as masonry arch bridges. The FE micro-modelling method was used to predict the shear behaviour of the triplet. Moreover, Photo-elastic analyses were used to investigate the stress distributions within the triplets under shear stress, in order to check the output from FE analyses. The investigation showed that the addition of SBR to mortar improves its performance under both static and cyclic loading when compared to the control sample, all in contrast to the addition of Latex 114 admixture which had the opposite effect. Additionally, the AE technique was found to be useful tool in providing valuable data about the full fracture behaviour during static and cyclic loading. The FE analyses proved to be capable of predicting shear strength to a reasonable degree of accuracy. The Photo-elastic technique was found to be a reliable and simple method of checking the stress profile output from the FE analyses.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:543511 |
| Date | January 2011 |
| Creators | Elbeskeri, Rabia E. |
| Publisher | University of Salford |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://usir.salford.ac.uk/26654/ |
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