The response of masonry joints to dynamic tensile loading

This paper presents results from laboratory tests on masonry joints subject to dynamic tensile loading. The tests were carried out using-specially designed Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar apparatus, the development of which is also briefly described in the paper. It was found experimentally that there was a significant apparent dynamic enhancement in the tensile strength when specimens were loaded at strain rates of approximately 1 s-1. (Dynamic Increase Factor = 3.1). Finite element modelling has been used to support a conjecture that this effect may-at least partly be a result of the inherent spatial variability of the brick-mortar bond strength, rather than being a genuine material characteristic per se.