Structural performance of unreinforced masonry elements made with concrete and horizontally perforated ceramic blocks - Laboratory tests

This paper discusses masonry buildings constructed in Pernambuco and their relationship to several failures that have occurred, some of which included the death of inhabitants. Topics such as the main features of this building technique and its peculiarities that played an important role in its structural behaviour are discussed in detail. Additionally, the paper presents a large characterization of materials and components used constituting the most important current research on this topic in Brazil. Its content analyses in depth, experimentally, the behaviour of single bricks, prisms and wallets that allow the identification and quantification of the influence of several mortar rendering layers on the load capacity of elements tested. A critical analysis concerning the factors that contribute to the performance observed is presented from which it was possible to realize a significant variability of results. A summary with the main results of all experimental tests is presented.