Stress–Strain Analysis of Hollow Concrete Blocks Masonry Prisms

In the structural response of masonry prisms under compression, the relationship between the unit compressive strength and the bedding mortar determines, in addition to its behavior, its form of failure. Research has shown that, depending on the relationship between the compressive strength of the bedding mortar and the block, prism failure can originate from one or the other. In the present work, the stress–strain analysis of masonry prisms made of 15-cm-thick blocks is carried out for a bedding mortar of 5.2 MPa and concrete blocks of compressive strength of 5 MPa, 7 MPa, and 12 MPa. To achieve this goal, a numerical model based on the finite element method (FEM) implemented in ABAQUS software of a hollow concrete blocks prism is developed and calibrated against the experimental results obtained by Oliveira (2014). The percentage increase in the bearing capacity of the prism due to the increase in the block compressive strength is established. It is confirmed that for prisms with similar compressive strength between blocks and mortar, the failure is governed by the simultaneous effect of both materials. For the prism with the block’s compressive strength much greater than that of the bedding mortar, the failure is governed by the bedding mortar.