Seyedmohammad Kahangi Shahreza, Miklós Molnár and Jonas Niklewski
Seyedmohammad Kahangi Shahreza, PhD Student, Department of Building and Environmental Engineering, Division of Structural Engineering, Lund University, John Ericssons väg 1, SE-223 63 Lund, Sweden, mohammad.kahangi@kstr.lth.se
Miklós Molnár, Associate Professor, Department of Building and Environmental Engineering, Division of Structural Engineering, Lund University, John Ericssons väg 1, SE-223 63, Lund, Sweden, miklos.molnar@kstr.lth.se
Jonas Niklewski, Assistant Professor, Department of Building and Environmental Engineering, Division of Structural Engineering, Lund University, John Ericssons väg 1, SE-223 63, Lund, Sweden, jonas.niklewski@kstr.lth.se
ABSTRACT
This experimental study investigates the effect of brick absorption properties and mortar joint profiles on water absorption and penetration in clay brick masonry. A test setup is presented,
making continuous measurements of absorbed and penetrating water possible. Further, damp patches on the backside of the specimens are tracked by utilizing a digital camera and image
analysis. Twenty-four masonry specimens are prepared using three different brick types with two different types of mortar joint profile: flush and raked. The tests are performed with a water
application rate of 6.3 l/m2/h ± 5 % and zero differential air pressure. Results indicate that water absorption and penetration are mostly dependent on brick absorption properties, and the main way for water to penetrate is through brick-mortar interfacial zone. Additionally, the effect of joint profile on water absorption and penetration in specimens is negligible. The first visible damp patches on the backside of specimens appeared close to the head joint, indicating the difficulty of workmanship in filling the head joints and the brick-mortar interface as the primary water
penetration path.
KEYWORDS: brick masonry, water absorption, water penetration, damp patches, mortar joint profile, wind-driven rain, sorptivity
