Impact of Salt Crystallization on the Mechanical Properties of Masonry

Masonry structures in coastal areas are subjected to the coupled effect of load and chloride-salt crystallization, resulting in severe degradation of mechanical properties. To investigate the damage characteristics and mechanical properties of masonry after chloride-salt crystallization, artificial environment simulation tests and mechanical properties tests of mortar cubes, brick, double-shear specimens, and uniaxial compression specimens were conducted. The surface damage of mortar and brick, the failure pattern of double-shear specimens and uniaxial compression specimens, strength deterioration, and the constitutive relation of brick masonry were analyzed. The results showed that the compressive strength of mortar cubes and the uniaxial compression strength of masonry increased first and then decreased with the increase of the number of chloride dry–wet cycles. The compressive strength of brick and the shear bond strength of specimens decreased. Prediction models were developed to ascertain the shear bond strength and uniaxial compression strength of masonry after chloride dry–wet cycles. Finally, a damage constitutive model was established considering the coupled action of chloride-salt crystallization and uniaxial compression. The validity of the model was corroborated by comparing it with the experimental results. This study can provide relevant information for the design and safety assessment of masonry structures in coastal areas.