Flexural Tensile Strength of Concrete Block Masonry

The objective of this paper is to evaluate the flexural tensile strength of unreinforced concrete masonry wall to ensure the structural safety in out-of-plane behaviors under the wind or earthquake loads. Flexural tensile strength of unreinforced concrete masonry wall has been obtained from the full scale tests of total 327 specimens and the statistical analysis are performed for each of the cases. The flexural tensile strength derived from experiments is classified as 13 groups according to masorny units, mortar ingredients, and the direction of tensile stresses and the mean tensile strength and the variable coefficient are obtained for each case. The uniform and concentrated transverse loads have been applied over the face of the wall specimens. The ultimate mean flexural tensile strengths are distributed from 1,564 kPa to 363 kPa according to masonry units, mortar ingredients, and other factors. The allowable flexural tension stress criteria will be established based on the mean flexural tensile strengths in the future.