Experimental and numerical investigation on the compressive properties of interlocking blocks
Masonry construction with interlocking bricks could effectively reduce construction time, minimize labour cost and improve construction quality. Existing interlocking bricks are mostly designed to provide easy alignment only, therefore the effect of interlocking mechanism on the mechanical performan...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2021
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| Online Access: | http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/LP170100846 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/89100 |
| _version_ | 1848765160611643392 |
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| author | Shi, Tingwei Zhang, Xihong Hao, Hong Chen, Chong |
| author_facet | Shi, Tingwei Zhang, Xihong Hao, Hong Chen, Chong |
| author_sort | Shi, Tingwei |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Masonry construction with interlocking bricks could effectively reduce construction time, minimize labour cost and improve construction quality. Existing interlocking bricks are mostly designed to provide easy alignment only, therefore the effect of interlocking mechanism on the mechanical performance of the interlocking block is not well investigated. This paper presents a laboratory and numerical study on the mechanical properties of a new type of interlocking brick featured with large shear keys for better mechanical performance. The theoretical compressive strength of a unit brick prism is derived using fracture mechanics theory, which is validated with laboratory compression test. Then, further tests on prisms with multiple interlocking bricks show the number of bricks strongly influences the performance of prism compressive strength. Detailed 3D numerical models of interlocking brick prisms are generated using ABAQUS. The numerical modelling results are compared with experimental test results. The damage and failure modes of the interlocking blocks are numerically and experimentally studied. Localized stress concentration at block interlocking surfaces is investigated. Parametric study is then carried out to quantify the influences of different design parameters including the number of blocks, brick surface roughness amplitude due to brick manufacturing tolerance and surface unevenness, and material strength. A modified formula based on the analytical solution is derived by fitting the numerical simulation and experimental results to predict the compressive capacity of interlocking brick prisms. A semi-empirical prediction method is also derived to predict the axial stiffness of the interlocking brick prism for use in design analysis of masonry structures made of mortar-less interlocking bricks. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:30:50Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-89100 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:30:50Z |
| publishDate | 2021 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-891002023-06-07T03:15:17Z Experimental and numerical investigation on the compressive properties of interlocking blocks Shi, Tingwei Zhang, Xihong Hao, Hong Chen, Chong Science & Technology Technology Engineering, Civil Engineering Interlocking brick Mortar-less Dry-stacking Contact imperfection Numerical modelling FINITE-ELEMENT-ANALYSIS DRY-STACK MASONRY MORTARLESS MASONRY CRACK COALESCENCE SEGMENTAL COLUMN WALL PANEL BEHAVIOR CONCRETE CAPACITY INPLANE Masonry construction with interlocking bricks could effectively reduce construction time, minimize labour cost and improve construction quality. Existing interlocking bricks are mostly designed to provide easy alignment only, therefore the effect of interlocking mechanism on the mechanical performance of the interlocking block is not well investigated. This paper presents a laboratory and numerical study on the mechanical properties of a new type of interlocking brick featured with large shear keys for better mechanical performance. The theoretical compressive strength of a unit brick prism is derived using fracture mechanics theory, which is validated with laboratory compression test. Then, further tests on prisms with multiple interlocking bricks show the number of bricks strongly influences the performance of prism compressive strength. Detailed 3D numerical models of interlocking brick prisms are generated using ABAQUS. The numerical modelling results are compared with experimental test results. The damage and failure modes of the interlocking blocks are numerically and experimentally studied. Localized stress concentration at block interlocking surfaces is investigated. Parametric study is then carried out to quantify the influences of different design parameters including the number of blocks, brick surface roughness amplitude due to brick manufacturing tolerance and surface unevenness, and material strength. A modified formula based on the analytical solution is derived by fitting the numerical simulation and experimental results to predict the compressive capacity of interlocking brick prisms. A semi-empirical prediction method is also derived to predict the axial stiffness of the interlocking brick prism for use in design analysis of masonry structures made of mortar-less interlocking bricks. 2021 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/89100 10.1016/j.engstruct.2020.111561 English http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/LP170100846 Elsevier fulltext |
| spellingShingle | Science & Technology Technology Engineering, Civil Engineering Interlocking brick Mortar-less Dry-stacking Contact imperfection Numerical modelling FINITE-ELEMENT-ANALYSIS DRY-STACK MASONRY MORTARLESS MASONRY CRACK COALESCENCE SEGMENTAL COLUMN WALL PANEL BEHAVIOR CONCRETE CAPACITY INPLANE Shi, Tingwei Zhang, Xihong Hao, Hong Chen, Chong Experimental and numerical investigation on the compressive properties of interlocking blocks |
| title | Experimental and numerical investigation on the compressive properties of interlocking blocks |
| title_full | Experimental and numerical investigation on the compressive properties of interlocking blocks |
| title_fullStr | Experimental and numerical investigation on the compressive properties of interlocking blocks |
| title_full_unstemmed | Experimental and numerical investigation on the compressive properties of interlocking blocks |
| title_short | Experimental and numerical investigation on the compressive properties of interlocking blocks |
| title_sort | experimental and numerical investigation on the compressive properties of interlocking blocks |
| topic | Science & Technology Technology Engineering, Civil Engineering Interlocking brick Mortar-less Dry-stacking Contact imperfection Numerical modelling FINITE-ELEMENT-ANALYSIS DRY-STACK MASONRY MORTARLESS MASONRY CRACK COALESCENCE SEGMENTAL COLUMN WALL PANEL BEHAVIOR CONCRETE CAPACITY INPLANE |
| url | http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/LP170100846 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/89100 |