On Compressive Stress-Strain Behavior of Standard Half-Scale Concrete Masonry Prisms

Masonry buildings are the most utilized structural system worldwide due to the ease of construction and cost-effectiveness. The effective design of masonry structures has been always an important research subject. Experimental studies are the main component of such research studies. The budget and equipment limitations may challenge the laboratory testing of full-scale masonry specimens and test structures. As such, the use of model-scale specimens may be found as a promising alternative to study the response behavior of this type of structure. In this paper, the stress-strain behavior of half-scale concrete masonry units and prisms (hollow and fully grouted) under compressive loads is evaluated and compared with their full-scale counterparts. The half-scale specimens are standard in that the principles of similitude law have been followed precisely in their aggregate grading, mix-design, physical dimensions, and loading. The stress-strain diagram and failure modes of the half-scale are similar to those of the full-scale. The ratio of half-scale to the full-scale compressive strength of the hollow and grouted masonry prisms on average was found to be 1.07, and 1.08, respectively. The experimentally-evaluated response of the standard half-scale specimens that fully satisfy the requirements of similitude law may be extended with good accuracy to the full-scale masonry.