M.  Graubohm¹ and W. Brameshuber²

1. Dipl.-Ing., Research assistant in the working group “masonry”, Institute of Building Materials Research (ibac), RWTH Aachen University, graubohm@ibac.rwth-aachen.de
2. Prof. Dr.-Ing., Professor and Director, Institute of Building Materials Research (ibac), RWTH Aachen University, brameshuber@ibac.rwth-aachen.de

ABSTRACT

Within the scope of the research project carried out at the Institute of Building Materials Research (ibac), RWTH Aachen University, the influence of intensive and long-term water storage on the mechanical properties of masonry components was examined and analysed. The experimental tests were carried out on different masonry unit types with commonly used mortar combinations and plasters respectively. Non-plastered single units, single-sided and/or doublesided plastered single units as well as on non-plastered 2- and 5-units specimens were tested. Besides, the literature available referring to the topic was collected, reviewed and evaluated.

According to the present results, it can be concluded that the influence of the water-storage on the mechanical properties of masonry components is to be rated as relatively small after they have dried to the initial humidity content. Both, compressive strength and tensile strength tests showed that the mechanical properties of water-saturated and dried specimens were not affected at all or rose to a higher level than before the water admission. Tests on plastered single units revealed that not only the external but also the interior plasters reached the same or higher adhesive tensile strength values after the drying process than before the water-storage.

KEYWORDS: masonry, mechanical properties, water-storage, drying

C5-2