The strength of hollow concrete block walls, reinforced hollow concrete block beams, and columns

Abstract

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine the strength of hollow concrete block masonry walls, beams, and columns, and compare their values with brick masonry walls and ordinary reinforced concrete beams and columns. The specimens for the hollow concrete block and brick masonry walls were prepared and tested for compressive and flexural strengths as well as horizontal and diagonal shear strengths. Moreover, two hollow concrete blocks and two ordinary reinforced concrete beams were designed to experience flexural and shear failure and loaded under a two-point bending load. Meanwhile, a hollow concrete block and an ordinary reinforced concrete column were also constructed and subjected to centric axial loads until they collapsed. The results showed the hollow concrete block masonry walls have greater strength than those made with bricks while both flexural and shear capacity as well as the flexural ductility of reinforced hollow concrete block beams were higher than ordinary reinforced concrete beams. Meanwhile, the centric compressive axial strength of the reinforced hollow concrete block column was smaller due to the inefficient bond it has with the infilled concrete which leads to their separation under the compressive axial load.