The design and performance of high-performance perforated fired masonry bricks

Abstract

Fire perforated clay masonry units have been extensively used through years in masonry structures, particularly in masonry walls both for loadbearing and non-loadbearing purposes (partition walls and enclosures). The location of the masonry walls as external enclosure brings some physical requirements, which together with mechanical requirements are the basis of the design of hollow clay bricks. This chapter provides an overview of the design requirements and design concepts of hollow clay bricks, together with some recent trends arising in the framework of obtaining more sustainable constructive materials. It discusses the main issues related to the mechanical performance of the units and of the masonry assemblages under distinct loading conditions. As often the unreinforced hollow clay masonry is built in seismic prone regions, an emphasis is given to the seismic behavior of hollow clay brick masonry under combined vertical and lateral in-plane loading, being discussed the main seismic performance parameters.