Volume :

4

Issue :

1

Abstract :

The main objective of the research was to determine the compressive strength of brick masonry cavity walls using different wall thickness. Brick units were tested for absorption as well as direct compressive strength using Universal Testing Machine (UTM). Mortar cubes (2”x2”x2”) having water-cement ratio (w/c) of 1.2 were cured for 7 and 28 days and tested in UTM. Three different combinations of cavity walls cured for 7 days and tested after 28 days under the increasing compressive load. Deflection gages were installed on both the external faces of the wall to measure vertical shortening of the specimen. Load-Deformation curves were plotted for three types of specimens. The Load-Deformation characteristics of the cavity walls were compared to that of solid brick masonry walls, it was concluded that the compressive strength and modulus of elasticity for cavity walls (K=172ksi) was relatively smaller than solid brick masonry wall (K=208ksi).