Title: Experimental assessment of diagonal shear parameters of dry stacked block masonry built with self-interlocking compressed earth blocks

Authors: Akhtar Gul; Inayat Ullah Khan; Bashir Alam; Khan Shahzada

Addresses: Department of Civil Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar, Campus-III Bannu, Pakistan ' Department of Civil Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar, Pakistan ' Department of Civil Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar, Pakistan ' Department of Civil Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar, Pakistan

Abstract: The surface characteristics of dry stack block masonry, built with interlocking blocks, control the overall performance of a structure. In this research work, the shear parameters of dry stack block masonry (DSBM) have been evaluated experimentally by testing DSBM walls through diagonal tension testing protocols. The DSBM walls were tested under the diagonal compression loading with and without edge load. The results have been evaluated by using available research models. Coefficient of friction, cohesion, diagonal tensile strength, shear strength, and shear modulus have been found from the experimental tests. This study shows that the shear parameters of DSBM are greatly influenced by axial compression. In the presence of axial compression load, the values of shear parameters of DSBM are closely matched with the values of regular mortared masonries.

Keywords: diagonal tension test; DTT; dry stack block masonry; DSBM; cohesion; friction coefficient; edge load; shear parameters; Elastic modulus; shear modulus; state of stress; diagonal compression loading.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMRI.2023.134185

International Journal of Masonry Research and Innovation, 2023 Vol.8 No.6, pp.635 - 662

Received: 27 Jan 2022
Accepted: 06 Apr 2022
Published online: 13 Oct 2023 *

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