KELVIN J. GRAHAM AND ADRIAN W.PAGE
ABSTRACT
Prestressed single skin clay or concrete hollow masonry is being used in Australia for the construction of low rise buildings in high wind areas to enhance its flexural performance. The level of prestress controls the cracking and the serviceability performance of the masonry, and the ultimate strength is governed by its cracked section performance. This paper presents the results of a fundamental study of the flexural behaviour of post-tensioned hollow clay masonry. The study consisted of a series of flexural tests on wallettes with a parallel analytical investigation of the flexural behaviour at both the serviceability and ultimate strength limit states. The variables included the level of prestress, the reinforcement ratio of the section, the degree of restraint of the tendons within the cores of the masonry, and the influence of the grout on the composite behaviour of the cross section.
F-14
