Sustainable Brick Masonry Bond Design and Analysis: An Application of a Decision-Making Technique

• Published in: Applied sciences Vol. 9; no. 20; p. 4313
• Main Authors: Shah, Syyed Adnan Raheel, Arshad, Hunain, Farhan, Muhammad, Raza, Syed Safdar, Khan, Mudasser Muneer, Imtiaz, Sunera, Shahzadi, Gullnaz, Qurashi, Muhammad Ahmed, Waseem, Muhammad
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.10.2019
• Subjects: artificial neural networks; Bonding strength; brick; Brickwork; Cement; Compressive strength; Concrete; Construction; Construction materials; Decision making; Flexural strength; Masonry; masonry bond; Mechanical properties; Moisture content; Neural networks; Residential development; Stone; Sustainability; Sustainable development
• ISSN: 2076-3417; 2076-3417
• DOI: 10.3390/app9204313

This research intends to explore the sustainable masonry bond formation and interface behaviour of brick masonry bonds with different cement mortar ratios. To test the sustainable behaviour of different brick bonds, different tests were applied to evaluate the performance of the developed five brick masonry structures with the help of four mortar ratios. Following that pattern, the methodologies of a prism triplet test, a bond wrench test, a shear bond test and strength tests for brick masonry were applied. The prism triplet test explained the bonding behaviour of mortar by producing a maximum strength (0.21 MPa) with a 1:3 mix ratio, and the minimum strength (0.095 MPa) with a 1:8 mix ratio. The bond wrench test showed a bond strength of maximum 0.0685 MPa with a mortar ratio of 1:3 and a minimum of 0.035 MPa with a mortar ratio of 1:8. The strength tests for masonry structures expressed that compressive strength (0.786 MPa) and flexural strength (0.352 MPa) were found to be at maximum level with a mortar ratio (1:3) with an English bond formation. For predictions of compressive and flexural strength, artificial neural networks (ANNs) were deployed, and successful predictions of these values along with the relationships between different properties of the material, mortar combinations and bond combinations are presented to complete the exploration of the relationship. This pattern can be helpful for the selection of sustainable brick masonry formations for housing development.