IITG Workshop on
         Earthquake Resistance of Low-Cost Engineered 
                       Housing in North-East India
               Material Characterization for 
                        Masonry Structures
    Dr. Vaibhav Singhal                                       Mr. Syed Humayun Basha
    Indian Institute of Technology Patna        Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
     Material Characterization for Masonry
      Proper material characterization required for load bearing 
       and non-load bearing masonry
      Load Bearing
         Unreinforced and reinforced masonry
         Confined masonry
      Non-load Bearing
         Unreinforced and reinforced masonry
      Masonry
         Brick or Block unit
         Mortar
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     Types of Brick/Blocks
      Clay Bricks 
        – Most Common 
        – Two types of 
             •Un-burnt
             •Burnt
      Fly ash Bricks
      Hollow Clay Bricks
      Concrete Blocks (Solid and Hollow)
      Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) Blocks
      Cellular Light weight Concrete (CLC) Blocks
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     Characterization of Brick Units
       Material Properties
         • Water Absorption (WA)
         • Initial Rate of Absorption (IRA)
             Mortar bond strength
             Important to assist in mortar selection and 
               material handling
         • Compressive strength (f )
                                    b
         • Tensile strength
             Flat Position
             On edge
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