FLEXURAL AND SHEAR STRENGTH OF HOLLOW

CONCRETE BLOCK MASONRY PRISMS UNDER

NORMAL STRESS

BY
HEMANTH KUMAR M.N

UNDER GUIDANCE OF
Smt MANGALA KESHAVA
Asst. Professor, Dept of civil Engineering, BMSCE
 INTRODUCTION
• Masonry may be defined as an assemblage of masonry units
along
with mortar laid in a predetermined orientatation..
• Concrete block masonry is the versatile material of today’s
construction industry because Concrete blocks having good

• thermal properties

• compressive strength

• resistance to chemical attack

• Earthquake resistance

• durability
• Concrete masonry units are used for load-bearing and Non-load
bearing walls.
IMPORTANT FEATURES OF BLOCK MASONRY
CONSTRUCTION

It ensures rapid construction

Fewer joints are constructed and hence saves

mortar

The true plane surface does not require plastering

It can be used for both load bearing and non load
bearing walls
 Classification of concrete blocks
as per IS-2185-part-
I(1979)
 Mainly 2 classifications.
 Hollow ( Open or Closed Cavity Concrete Blocks)
 have core area greater than 25%, but not greater than 40%.
 Sub classification of Hollow blocks
 Grade A- min. block density-1500 kg/m3 ,
compr .strength of 3.5,4.5,5.5,7.0 N/mm2 @ 28 D

Grade B- block density- 1000-1500 kg/m3 ,

compr .strength of 2.0,3.0,5.0 N/mm2 @ 28 D

Grade C- block density- 1000-1500 kg/m3 ,

compr .strength of 1.5 N/mm2 @ 28 D.

 Grade D- block density not less than 1800 kg/m3

compr .strength of 4.0,5.0 N/mm2 @ 28 D.
 APPLICATIONS
Masonry is commonly used for the
walls of buildings,
retaining walls
Garden walls
Chimney
Piers
 TYPES OF MASONRY
STONE MASONRY

BRICK MASONRY

BLOCK MASONRY

REINFORCED MASONRY
STONE AND BRICK MASONRY
STRUCTURES
CONCRETE BLOCK MASONRY
STRUCTURES
HOLLOW CONCRETE BLOCK MASONRY CONSTRUCTION
 EARLIER STUDIES ON
MASONRY
Raghunath etal (2003) reported the flexural
strength of TMB was in the range of 0.36 MPa to
0.53 MPa .Also the flexural bond strength of TMB
prisms with cement mortar 1:6 was 0.088Mpa
Atul kumar(2009) conducted the flexure tests on
SCB prisms under normal stress
It was concluded that with increase in normal
stress the flexural strength also increased
The shear test was conducted on SCB triplet
specimens under normal stress
It was concluded that their was increase an shear
strength with increase in normal stress
 OBJECTIVE OF PRESENT
INVESTIGATION
TO EVALUATE COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF
HOLLOW BLOCK MASONRY PRISMS

 TO EVALUATE THE FLEXURAL STRENGTH

AND SHEAR STRENGTH OF HOLLOW BLOCK
MASONRY UNDER VARYING NORMAL
STRESS.
 PRELIMINARY TESTS
Hollow concrete blocks
 Dimensionality test
 Dry density test
 Water absorption test
 Initial rate of absorption test
 Compressive strength
 Modulus of Elasticity

Mortar
 Compressive strength of mortar
.

DIMENSIONALITY TEST
Twenty hollow concrete blocks were selected at random from the
samples as per IS: 2185-(part-I) 1979 . The overall length, breadth,
height of blocks were measured with steel tape

Sl. No Total measure Average measure

in mm in mm
1. 8050 402.500
2. 3000 150.000
3. 3980 199.000

The avg dimensions of block were 402*150*199mm.

DIMENSIONALITY TEST
 COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF
BLOCK
IS: 2185-(part-I) 1979 gives the compressive strength of
concrete blocks both to be used for load bearing and non-
load bearing walls.
As per IS:2185-(part-I)1979 value of
compressive strength of hollow blocks ranges
from 2-7 Mpa.

Compressive = Failure Load .

Strength Area of Sample

The Average compressive strength of

block is 6.10N/mm2.
 DRY DENSITY
 The test was carried out as per IS:2185-1979(part-I).
Formula= Dry Weight
Volume of Block

The average dry density of hollow concrete block is

1.155 g/cc.
 WATER ABSORPTION
 Water absorption test was conducted on the concrete
block samples as per the IS: 2185 (part I) - 1979,
appendix D. the water absorption of any unit shall not be
more than 10 percent by mass

Water Absorption = Wet Weight – Oven Dry Weight . X

100
Oven Dry Weight

 The average water absorption of block is 5.33%.

 INITIAL RATE OF
ABSORPTION

In a plastic tray, distilled water was

filled up to a depth of 2.5cm from the
bottom of tray.

IRA = Wet Weight – Dry Weight X 1min.

Area of Sample

The average IR of block is1.75

kg/m2/min
 MODULUS OF ELASTICITY

Modulus of elasticity of any material is the

ratio of linear stress to linear strain within
elastic limit. It is also known as “Young’s
modulus” and represented by “E” and its
unit is N/mm2

MOE=5898Mpa
NORMALIZED STRESS V/S STRAIN CURVE
FOR HOLLOW CONCRETE BLOCK
MASONRY
 FLEXURAL STRENGTH OF HOLLOW
BLOCK
The flexural strength of the
concrete block was computed as given
by “Dayarathnam P. in ‘Brick and Brick
Masonry Structures’ (1987)”. This test
gives the strength of the hollow
concrete block against the bending
load.

[ Flexural strength= (3PL) / (2bd2) ]

The average flexural strength of block

is 1.87N/mm2
 COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH OF
MORTAR
 28 days compression strength of 70.6X70.6X70.6mm size mortar
cubes of 1:6 cement sand ratio with a W/C ratio of 1.2.

 The average compressive strength

of mortar was obtained after testing
6 cubes (IS:2250-1980)

 The average compressive strength of

Mortar is 10.13MPa
 EXPERIMENT PROGRAMME

COMPRESSION TEST ON HOLLOW

CONCRETE BLOCK PRISMS
The main objective was to evaluate the
basic properties like :

Compressive strength
Elastic modulus
Stress- Strain relation ship
Masonry efficiency
CASTING OF PRISMS
 PRESENT EXPERIMENTAL
DETAILS
From this experiment the compression strength
was obtained.

The specimen was cast with a CM of 1:6 & W/C

ratio 1.2

Four hollow concrete block prisms of dimension

(400*150*673)mm

The loads were applied using hydraulic jack

Digital dial gauge was fixed on the prisms for

taking strain measurements
 LOADING FRAME DETAILS

The prism specimens were constructed on

the loading platform of the loading frame
of 2000KN capacity having a clear dimension
of 3.0Mts x1.75 Mts. As shown in figure.
 Accessories for loading

•Hydraulic jack

•Hydraulic pump

•Proving ring 50T Capacity (LC=0.9206kN)

•Digital dial gauge with stand(LC=0.001mm)

 OBSERVATIONS OF THE PRISMS
DURING TEST

Vertical cracks
propogated from top to
bottom course ,
Bond failure.

observed Failure pattern (vertical cracks front

side)
Observed Failure pattern (vertical
cracks- side side)
 OBSERVATION AND TABULATION
• Wet Compressive Strength =Failure load(P) / (Area of specimen in
mm2)

• Corrected compressive strength= wet compressive strength x

correction factor(from IS-1905-1987-TABLE-12)

• Stress= Load(P) / (Area of specimen in mm2)

• Strain= Difference in length (mm) / original length (mm).

•Masonry efficiency (%) = Compressive strength of

prism/compressive strength of unit
 Compressive strength of prisms
Maximum Wet h/t ratio Correction Corrected
failure load in compressive factor compressive
specimen Dimension in
kN strength in strength in
mm
MPa
MPa

1 400x150x673 240 4.00 4.48 1.33 5.32

2 400x150x673 230 3.83 4.48 1.33 5.10

3 400x150x673 230 3.83 4.48 1.33 5.10

4 400x150x673 220 3.67 4.48 1.33 4.88

Average compressive strength = 5.1MPa

(REF IS:1905-1987)
Results of Modulus elasticity and Masonry
efficiency of prisms

Specimen Corrected Modulus of Masonry

compressive Elasticity Efficiency (%)
strength(MPa (MPa)
)
1 5.32 6868 87

2 5.10 6855 83

3 5.10 6515 83

4 4.88 6047 80

Mean Normalized Overall

compressive value= 6535 efficiency
strength = 5.1 =83.25
NORMALIZED STRESS V/S STRAIN CURVE OF HCB
MASONRY
TEST ON HOLLOW CONCRETE BLOCK PRISMS FOR
FLEXURE AND SHEAR UNDER NORMAL STRESS
 TEST DETAILS FOR FLEXURE
 Flexural strength of a masonry is its capacity to restrain the
transverse/lateral loads.
 Nine hollow concrete block prism specimens of dimension
400mm*150mm*673mm were cast for the experiment
 End condition - hinged

 loading arrangement – 2 point loading

 The loads were applied using screw jacks

 The normal stress applied on prisms were 0.125, 0.20, 0.40, (MPa).
 EQUIPMENTS USED

Fabricated hinge (2 no’s)

Props (1 no’s)

Screw jack (2 no’s)

Proving ring of 10T & 50T capacity

Two-point loading arrangement

Steel plate and wooden supports

 TEST SET UP

JACK1

PR1

JACK2 ,
PR2
Hinge Two point loading
Arrangement for normal loading Arrangement for lateral loading
Prism failure normal to bed joint Prism failure normal bed to joint
Prism failure normal to bed joint Prism failure normal to bed joint
Beam-column equation
The maximum B.M for beam-column, at mid span is

Where, W = Lateral load in N

K=
P = Normal load in N

a=

L = effective length(c/c of hinge) in mm

 Ultimate flexure strength
Sl No. Normal Proving Normal Lateral K=√P/EI Moment Flexure
Stress Ring Load (P) Load (w) N (M) N-mm Strengt
(N/mm2) N h
(N/mm2)

1 0.125 155 7500 3801.37 1.010x10-4 929472.08 0.619

2 0.125 150 7500 3678.75 1.010x10-4 899492.30 0.600

3 0.125 140 7500 3433.50 1.010x10-4 839521.76 0.550

4 0.200 230 12000 5640.75 1.278x10-4 1380697.7 0.920

3
5 0.200 210 12000 5150.25 1.278x10-4 1260639.2 0.840
8
6 0.200 200 12000 4905.00 1.278x10-4 1200605.0 0.800
6
7 0.400 280 24000 6867.00 1.807x10-4 1681072.4 1.120
0
8 0.400 275 24000 6744.37 1.807x10-4 1651056.3 1.100
3
9 0.400 270 24000 6621.75 1621030.2 1.080
 Comparison of Flexural strength v/s Normal stress of prisms

An attempt was made to compare the test results of hollow concrete

block masonry with brick masonry & solid concrete block masonry
studied by earlier investigations.

Normal Flexure strength of Flexure strength Flexure strength Flexure strength

stress(MPa) half brick thick of one brick thick of thick SCB of thick HCB
prisms(MPa) prisms(MPa) prisms(MPa) prisms(MPa)
Applied
(Chandrasekhar200 (Vidya sagar ( Atul Kumar (Present study)
9) 2009) 2009)

0.025 0.14 - - -
0.125 0.210 0.40 0.505 0.589
0.2 0.281 0.481 0.613 0.853
0.4 0.45 0.88 1.013 1.10
0.5 0.53 1.16 1.321 -
GRAPH OF FLEXURAL STRENGTH V/S NORMAL
STRESS
TEST ON HOLLOW CONCRETE BLOCK
MASONRY TRIPLET UNDER SHEAR
 TEST DETAILS FOR SHEAR SPECIMENS

 Shear strength of a masonry is its capacity to restrain the shear

loads.
 The dimension of triplet specimens of height 412mm, width
624mm and thickness 150mm were constructed and cured
for 15 days
 loading arrangement,the loads were applied using screw jacks

 The normal stress applied on The triplet specimens were 0.125

(Mpa).
Setup for testing
Schematic diagram showing details
of Test setup for Shear
 TABULATION AND CALCULATIONS

Capacity of jack used for normal loading(J1) = 12 tons

Capacity of proving ring used for normal loading (PR1) = 50 tons

Capacity of jack used for shear loading (J2) = 30 tons

Capacity of proving ring used for lateral loading (PR2) = 05 tons

OBSERVATIONS OF THE TRIPLETS TESTED
UNDER SHEAR

Triplet failure pattern

 ULTIMATE SHEAR STRENGTH
Sl Normal No of Shear Load Shearing Shear
No. Stress Divisions in (N) Area Strength
(N/mm2) Proving Ring (mm2) (N/mm2)

1 0.125 460 22563.00 120000 0.188

2 0.125 475 23298.75 120000 0.194

3 0.125 585 28694.25 120000 0.240

4 0.125 470 23053.50 120000 0.192

Comparison of Shear strength v/s Normal stress of Triplets

SHEAR STRENGTH(MPa)

Normal Shear strength Shear strength of Shear strength of

stress(MPa) half brick thick SCB Triplets HBM Triplets
Applied Triplets (Atul kumar (Present study )
(Karthik 2009) 2009)
0.025 0.06255 _ _

0.125 0.09037 0.2825 0.2035

0.2 0.1548 0.665 _

0.4 0.286 0.98 _
0.5 0.391 1.192 _
 CONCLUSION
 It can be concluded that there is an increase in flexural
strength for hollow concrete block prisms, when compared
to solid concrete block masonry & brick masonry

It can be concluded that there is a decrease in shear

strength for hollow concrete block triplet, when compared
to solid concrete block but a higher value when compared
to brick triplets.(needs further investigation)
 FURTHER SCOPE OF
RESEAECH
Evaluation of compressive strength and modulus
of elasticity of reinforced masonry prisms with
large number of samples is required to completely
understand the behavior of hollow block masonry

A comparison can be made between strength of

unreinforced &reinforced hollow concrete block
masonry

Further study can be carried out with varying

values of normal stress
•IS: 2185(part-I)-1979, ‘‘Code of specification for concrete masonry
units-Hollow and solid concrete blocks”. Bureau of Indian standards,
New Delhi.
•Dayaratham.p (1987). ‘‘Brick and Reinforced Brick masonry
structures” Oxford IBH Publishing Co.Pvt Ltd.New Delhi.
•Sp-20(1991) ‘‘Handbook on masonry design and construction”,
Bureau of Indian standards, New Delhi.
•Atul Kumar (2009) ‘‘A study on behavior of solid concrete block
masonry under flexure and shear loading conditions”. M-Tech Thesis
Submitted to Department of Civil Engineering, BMSCE, and
Bangalore.
•Avinash.A.C (2006) ‘‘A Comprehensive study on masonry Units” M-
Tech thesis submitted to Department of Civil Engineering, BMSCE,
and Bangalore.
•Siddangouda.patil (2007) ‘‘Compressive strength and Modulus of
Elasticity of a Full Scale Concrete Block Masonry Wall Subjected to
Axial Loading”. M-Tech Thesis Submitted to Department of Civil
Engineering, BMSCE, and Bangalore.
•Chandrasekhar (2009) ‘‘Effect of normal stress on Flexural strength
of brick masonry”. M-Tech Thesis Submitted to Department of Civil
Engineering, BMSCE, and Bangalore.