Characterisation of thin layer polymer cement mortared concrete masonry bond

• Thin layer polymer mortared concrete masonry bond is reported.
• Bond strengths are higher in dry cured specimens compared to wet cured specimens.
• 7 day wet curing with subsequent 7 day dry curing makes specimen dry.
• Flexural bond strength increase is inhibited by the tensile strength of the units.
• Relation between shear and flexural bond strengths is affected by unit tensile strength.

Masonry bond is affected by many parameters such as the type of mortar used, the techniques of dispersion of mortar and the surface texture of the concrete blocks. Additionally it is understood from the studies on conventional masonry that the bond characteristics are also influenced by the curing methods as well as the age of the bond at the time of testing. These effects on thin layer mortared masonry employing polymer cement mortars are not well understood. Therefore, the effect of curing methods and age to the bond strength and deformation of masonry containing thin layered polymer cement mortar was investigated as part of an ongoing research program at the Queensland University of Technology. This paper presents an experimental investigation of the flexural and shear bond characteristics of the thin layer mortared concrete masonry. The parameters examined include the effects curing and ageing to the bond development over a period from 14 days to 56 days after fabrication. The results exhibit that dry cured thin layer mortared masonry exhibits higher bond strength and Young’s and shear moduli compared to the wet cured specimens.