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IBRACON Structures and Materials Journal • 2012 • vol. 5 • nº 5
Mechanical behavior analysis of small-scale modeling of ceramic block masonry structures –
Geometries effect
fluorescence carried out at “Centro de Tecnologia em Cerâmica”
(Masonry Technology Centre) in Criciúma, Santa Catarina state.
In this study, blocks were fabricated with different geometries on a
scale of 1:3. The ceramic mass was conformed through an extrud-
er, where the mass is pushed through an opening called a mouth-
piece in the geometry of the desired block shape. The extruder
was equipped with a vacuum chamber to facilitate removing air
from the block.
4.2 Mechanical characterisation of blocks
and mortars
In the evaluation of the influence of block geometry on the mechan-
ical behaviour of masonry, experimental studies on the compres-
sion strength of units (blocks), prisms and walls at a small scale
of 1:3 were carried out using two types of mortar. The small-scale
blocks were 4.67 x 6.33 x 9.67 cm. Figure 11 shows the different
geometries of the blocks as well as the dimension and an image of
the small-scale prisms. The main goal of the experimental program
was to use the small-scale models to investigate the influence of
the block geometry on structural masonry when submitted to com-
pressive stress, and to determine the potential use of the small
scale to represent masonry behaviour. Four different types of block
geometry designated type A, B, C, and D were used.
Reduction of the geometric scale was applied for the bedding mor-
tar joint and for the vertical joints of prisms and walls. To keep
the properties of the joint equal to the real scale, a reduction in
the particle size distribution of the mortar sand was performed. A
sand was selected that best fit the particle size limits in the British
The two clays were dosed and blended in the feeder, which breaks
up the mixture prior to the horizontal mixer. In the final phase of
the production process, water was added to adjust the moisture
content for optimum extrusion. Table 03 presents the clay chemi-
cal composition determined by chemical analyses by using X-ray
Table � � Chemical composition
of the clay
Chemical compounds
Percent by weight
SiO
2
61,46%
Al O
2 3
19,73%
Fe O
2 3
7,00%
CaO
0,05%
Na O
2
0,18%
K O
2
2,13%
MnO
0,08%
TiO
2
0,91%
MgO
0,97%
P O
2 5
0,22%
Loss on ignition
7,27%
Figure �� � �eome�ric s��pe o� cer�mic blocks i� � ��� sm�ll sc�le ��� ��ree-block prisms