15th International Brick and Block

Masonry Conference
Florianpolis Brazil 2012

THE INFLUENCE OF MORTAR BEDDING ON THE COMPRESSIVE

STRENGTH OF CONCRETE BLOCK MASONRY STRUCTURES
Izquierdo, Orieta Soto1; Corra, Mrcio Roberto Silva2; Soto, Indara Izquierdo3
1

PhD Student, EESC - University of So Paulo, Department of Structural Engineering, orieta@sc.usp.br

2
PhD, Associate Professor, EESC - University of So Paulo, Department of Structural Engineering,
mcorrea@sc.usp.br
3
PhD Student, EESC - University of So Paulo, Department of Structural Engineering, indara@sc.usp.br

Currently, structural masonry still has some advantages in the construction industry when
compared with conventional systems. However, to use this system better, it should be further
studied. This research studies the change in compressive strength of structural masonry of
concrete blocks due to the type of mortar bedding, comparing full and face-shell bedding. To
characterize the materials, experimental tests and compressive strength tests of the units,
prisms, and wallettes were also conducted. All materials complied with the standard
requirements for their correct use in the experimental tests. The results of the compressive
tests of the elements showed that the bedding type significantly influenced the compressive
strength of masonry, with full mortar bedding showing better performance. The specimens
with full mortar bedding showed higher compressive strengths. Prisms and wallettes with
face-shell bedding presented a more fragile failure, showing thick vertical cracks along the
cross webs.
Keywords: Mortar type, adjustment dimensional parts, contact area, structural masonry.

INTRODUCTION
Masonry is an assemblage of masonry units (bricks or blocks) bonded with mortar or mortar
and grout. It is usually designed to resist compression or a combination of internal forces, and
may contain reinforcement encased in concrete or mortar in the horizontal and / or vertical
plane.
There is currently a progressive search for streamlining processes in the construction market
in order to increase productivity and reduce building costs. In this scenario, an increasing
demand is seen for streamlined structural masonry buildings projects, enabling their
widespread use today, a result of the characteristics of this process regarding execution speed,
rigid quality control, modular coordination, reduction of waste and improvisations.
The growing tendency in Brazil and in the rest of the world to use structural masonry for
constructions requires implementing new technologies, therefore less use of manpower, less
waste of materials and better working conditions. However, these aspects should be properly
studied to make better use of all advantages, and the first step is promoting awareness of the
technical aspects. In Brazil, scientific research is mostly directed at obtaining the best
performance of walls, both structurally and functionally, hence improving the development of
masonry in civil construction.
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15th International Brick and Block

Masonry Conference
Florianpolis Brazil 2012

In the construction process, the type of mortar bedding can be decisive in the production and
performance of the blockwork. The face shell bedding in the horizontal joints has been widely
used as it reduces execution time.
The effect of the mortar bedding type on stress distribution, cracking and failure of walls has
been studied by some researchers and engineers. For example:
Woldetinsae and Colville (1991) studied the influence of the mortar bedding type on
the compressive strength of concrete masonry blocks. The authors concluded that the
compressive strength of hollow prisms (mortar bedding area) is approximately 8%
lower for prisms with face shell mortar bedding than for prisms with full mortar
bedding.
Ganesan and Ramamurthy (1992), using the finite element method to study the
behavior of prisms with different mortar bedding types, concluded that only the
placement of mortar on the side webs of the blocks may induce high stress
concentration points in the transverse webs of the blocks.
Mata (2006) also studied the influence of the mortar bedding type on concrete block
masonry submitted to compression; the laboratory test results showed the loss of
compressive strength capacity and fragile failure of the prisms and wallettes executed
with face shell mortar bedding when compared against those with full mortar bedding.
Pasquali (2007) investigated the influence of the mortar bedding type in the
compressive strength of small structural ceramic masonry walls and concluded that the
type of mortar bedding is a factor that can change the resistance of the masonry.
Thus, the main objective of this paper is to investigate the behavior of the compressive
strength of masonry walls with face shell and full mortar bedding, to confirm the previous
findings and contribute with new results.
EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM
The experimental program studied the behavior of masonry using two different specimens:
prisms and wallettes made of concrete blocks, varying the mortar bedding type (face shell and
full).
The compressive tests were carried out applying distributed displacement-controlled
monotonic loading.
Two series were used for testing the walls:
a) Series I full mortar bedding
b) Series II face shell mortar bedding
Complimentary tests were carried out to characterize the masonry: compressive strength
testing of prisms, wallettes and cylindrical mortar specimens, all specimens were tested at the
age of 28 days.

15th International Brick and Block

Masonry Conference
Florianpolis Brazil 2012

Table 2 shows the total number of specimens for each series.

Table 2 Number of specimens
Series type

Prisms

Wallettes

Series I
Series II
Total number of
specimens

12
12

6
6

48

24

Cylindrical mortar
specimens
6
6
24

The compressive strength of mortar

The cylindrical mortar specimens (5cmx10cm) were molded and tested for compressive tests
according to NBR 13279 (2005), after 28 days. To obtain regular and smooth surfaces they
were rectified.
This test was carried out in a hydraulic computerized ELE machine, model Autotest 2000,
with 2000 kN capacity and 2.03 kN/s loading speed, shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1 - Compressive strength test of the mortar

The compressive strength of the concrete blocks
Figure 2 shows the nominal dimensions of the units used in this study.

Figure 2 Nominal dimensions of the blocks (in cm)

Six blocks were tested for compressive strength, according to NBR 12118 (2007).
A special soft material was used to cap the blocks, prisms, and wallettes. This is a typical
ceiling panel material, manufactured by Eucatex Company (Figure 3).

15th International Brick and Block

Masonry Conference
Florianpolis Brazil 2012

Figure 3 Ceiling panel used for capping the specimens

Figure 4 shows the compressive tests of the concrete blocks carried out in the hydraulic
computerized ELE.

Figure 4 Compressive strength test of the concrete blocks

Compressive strength test of the prisms
Figure 5 shows the nominal dimensions of the 2-block prisms.

Figure 5 Nominal dimensions of the prisms (in cm)

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15th International Brick and Block

Masonry Conference
Florianpolis Brazil 2012

12 prisms were built with full mortar bedding and 12 prisms with face shell mortar bedding.
The compressive tests were performed in accordance with NBR 8215 (1983).
The prisms were tested in the servo-hydraulic universal INSTRON machine, model 8506.
They were not instrumented, and the force was applied at a loading speed corresponding to a
displacement increase of 0.01 mm/s. Figure 6 shows the test apparatus.

Figure 6 Compressive strength test of the prisms

Compressive strength test of the wallettes
Figure 7 shows the dimensions of the 5-row wallettes.
6 wallettes were tested with full mortar bedding and 6 with face shell mortar bedding.

Figure 7 Nominal dimensions of the wallettes (in cm)

Similarly to the prisms, the compressive tests of the wallettes were carried out in the servohydraulic universal INSTRON machine and all the data results were read by the SYSTEM
5000.
Four transducers were used in each wallette, two on each side. Figure 8 shows the test rig,
indicating the dimensions and the instruments position (equal for both sides).
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15th International Brick and Block

Masonry Conference
Florianpolis Brazil 2012

Figure 8 Compressive strength test of the wallettes (in cm)

EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS AND ANALYSIS
Compressive strength of the mortar
Table 3 shows the compressive strength results of the mortar used to build the prisms and
wallettes of both series.
Table 3 Compressive strength of mortar.
Series
I
II

Mean resistance
(fam) (MPa).
7.22
6.12

Standard Deviation
(Sd) (MPa)
1.93
1.82

Coefficient of Variation
(CV) (%)
7.77
4.44

The results presented in Table 6 show that the compressive strength of mortar is consistent
with mortar (ii) of BS 5628: Part 1 (2005), that predicts a mean resistance of 6.5 MPa in the
laboratory with a volume ratio of 1:0.5:4.5.
Compressive strength of the blocks
Table 4 presents the results of the compressive strength of the blocks.
Table 4 Results of the compressive strength of the blocks
Series
I e II

Mean strength
(fbm) (MPa).
11.16

Standard
Deviation (MPa)
0.34

Coefficient of
Variation (%)
3.05

Characteristic strength
(fbk) (MPa)
10.25

Overall, the compression tests of the units showed a cone shaped failure, (Figure 9), typical of
a compressed specimen confined by the platens at the top and bottom surfaces.

15th International Brick and Block

Masonry Conference
Florianpolis Brazil 2012

Figure 9 Typical compressive failure of the blocks

Compressive strength of the prisms
In general, the failure of the prisms was characterized by a vertical crack along its thickness,
leading to a separation of the units through the transverse web. The cracking width was larger
for the face-shell bedding, as shown in Figure 10a. As for the prisms with full mortar bedding,
the cracking process was not as severe and the block was usually crushed, as shown in Figure
10b.

(a)
(b)
Figure 10 Failure of prisms with face-shell mortar bedding (a); and full mortar
bedding (b).
The compressive strength results of the prisms are shown in Table 5.
Table 5 Results of the compressive strength of prisms
I

Mean resistance of
prisms fpm (MPa)
7.82

II

5.25

Series

Full mortar bedding

Face-shell mortar
bedding

0.81

CV
(%)
10.34

0.47

8.95

Sd (MPa)

Table 5 shows clear evidence that the prisms with face-shell mortar bedding presented lower
resistance than the prisms with full mortar bedding, with an average difference of 36 %.
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15th International Brick and Block

Masonry Conference
Florianpolis Brazil 2012

The statistical tests F and T were used to evaluate the means. The study concluded that, for a
significance level of 5%, full mortar bedding prisms were stronger than those with face-shell
bedding.
Compressive strength of the wallettes
Table 6 shows the results of the compressive strength of the wallettes.
Table 6 Results of the compressive strength of wallettes

Mean resistance
of prisms fpm
(MPa)
7.82

Mean resistance
of wallettes fm-p
(MPa)
4.62

II

5.25

4.20

Series

Full mortar bedding

Face-shell mortar
bedding

Sd
(MPa)

CV
(%)

0.54

11.76

0.26

6.11

The results in Table 6 show that the type of mortar bedding influenced the compressive
strength of wallettes similar to what occurred in the prisms. The reduction of the compressive
strength of wallettes with face-shell mortar bedding was 14% in average, compared to the
specimens with full mortar bedding. Statistical analysis showed significant differences
between these values for both series of wallettes.
Failure type of the wallettes
All wallettes with face-shell mortar bedding presented verticals cracks along their widths.
These cracks appeared before the face cracks occurred and when the load was close to 85% of
the failure load. With full mortar bedding the first cracks appeared at the front external faces
with loads closer to the failure value (91%). The cracks on the transverse webs were less
visible and, in some cases, did not appear. Figures 10 and 11 show examples of typical
wallettes of each series, with their respective lateral and front faces.

(a)
(b)
Figure 10 Side view (a) and front view (b) of the wallettes with full mortar bedding
(Series I)

15th International Brick and Block

Masonry Conference
Florianpolis Brazil 2012

(a)
(b)
Figure 11 Side view (a) and front view (b) of the wallettes with face-shell mortar
bedding (Series II)
Stress-strain curves of the wallettes
Figures 10 and 11 present the stress-strain curves of the wallettes of both series. The strain
records are the averages of the four LVDTs.

(a)
Figure 10 -Stress-strain curves of the wallettes
with face-shell mortar bedding
(Series I)

(b)
Figure 11 -Stress-strain curves of the wallettes
with full mortar bedding
(Series II)

Figures 10 and 11 show that the wallettes with full mortar bedding presented higher
compressive strength values and larger Youngs modulus compared to the specimens with
face-shell mortar bedding.

CONCLUSIONS
The mortar used in the experimental tests of this study was properly prepared, in accordance
with the requirements of British Standards.
The blocks showed compressive characteristic strength higher than 4.0 MPa, being classified
as structural blocks according to Brazilian Standards. They generally showed a cone shaped
failure, typical of specimens confined by the top and bottom platens.
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15th International Brick and Block

Masonry Conference
Florianpolis Brazil 2012

Regarding the prisms, the type of mortar bedding significantly influenced the compressive
strength; the specimens with full mortar bedding showed higher compressive strengths.
Regarding the wallettes, the behavior was similar to the prisms. The specimens with full
mortar bedding showed higher compressive strengths, with statistically significant
differences.
Both the prisms and the wallettes with face-shell mortar bedding showed a more fragile
failure, characterized by the development of thick vertical cracks along their widths.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Department of Structural Engineering School of Engineering of So Carlos - USP, for
permission to realization of this work.

REFERENCES
ASSOCIAO BRASILEIRA DE NORMAS TCNICAS. NBR 12118: Concrete hollow
blocks for masonry - Test methods. Rio de Janeiro, 2007. (in Portuguese)
_____. NBR 8215: Prisms of concrete hollow blocks for simple structural masonry Preparation and testing for compression - Test methods. Rio de Janeiro, 1983. (in Portuguese)
BRITISH STANDARD INSTITUITION. BS 5628: Part 1: Code of practice for Structural use
of masonry. Unreinforced masonry. London, Inglaterra, 2005.
COLVILLE J. WOLDETINSAE, A.M. Compressive strength of grouted concrete
masonry. Proceedings of the 9th International brick/block masonry conference. v. 1. Berlin,
Germany, p. 149-156, 1991.
GANESAN, T.P. RAMAMURTHY, K. Behavior of Concrete Hollow Block Masonry
Prisms Under Axial Compression. Journal of Structural Engineering. v. 118, jul. 1992.
MATA, R.C. Influence of mortar bedding in the compressive strength of structural masonry
prisms and mini-walls of concrete blocks. 2006. 157p. Dissertation (Civil Engineering
Master), Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianpolis, 2006. (in Portuguese)
PASQUALI, I. Influence of the type of mortar bedding to the compretion resistence of
small structure mansonry walls. Santa Maria, 2007. 138p. Dissertation (Civil Engineering
Master), Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, 2007. (in Portuguese)

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