Modelling compressive strength of eccentrically loaded masonry

A mechanical model for explaining and quantifying the variation of the uniaxial compressive strength of brick masonry with load eccentricity has been developed. The model is based on the development of tensile cracks from shear plane flaws in the bricks and the stress intensity factor resulting from the applied loading and tensile stresses induced by lateral straining of the mortar. Calibration of the model requires knowledge of only the compressive strengths of the bricks, mortar and brick masonry under uniform compression. Theoretical predictions of the lower bound, mean and upper bound compressive strengths of brick masonry under non-uniform loading are compared and show close correlation with test data.