EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON SHEARING TEST METHOD AND CONSTITUTIVE LAW OF BRICK JOINT

Main purpose of the present study is to propose a failure criterion for the brick structural element under combined stresses of normal and shear. Firstly, a series of experiments was carried out in which experimental factors include the method of shearing test, strength of mortar, angle of joint, and normal stress applied. Failure pattern observed in the most specimens was the interface failure occurred between a brick and jointing mortar, while two failure patterns are possible the interface failure and the jointing mortar failure. Next, based on the experimental data, a simple failure criterion formula was proposed in which both of the two types of failure patters can be considered.