A Simplified Evaluation of the Influence of the Bond Pattern on the Brickwork Limit Strength

Abstract:

The influence of the bond pattern on the in-plane limit strength of masonry is analyzed through a simplified procedure based on the application of the safe theorem of limit analysis to the unit cell that generates the whole masonry by periodic repetition. The limit strength domains of running bond, English bond and herringbone bond masonry are obtained with different orientations of the mortar bed joints with respect to the principal directions of the average stress. The effects of different brick geometries are analyzed and comparisons between strength properties of different masonry patterns are made.

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