Out-of-Plane Shear Strength Assessment of Typical and Geometrically Modified Bricks

Masonry walls are subjected to various loadings including settlements, earthquakes, and wind loads that can cause in-plane and out-of-plane shear stresses leading to joint failures. This research evaluates the out-of-plane shear strength of typical brick masonry and geometrically modified brick masonry. Modified bricks feature grooves on the header face filled with mortar to form shear keys. Six wall specimens (three typical, three modified) measuring 2 feet by 2 feet were tested. Results show that modified brick masonry exhibits 23% higher peak load capacity compared to typical brick masonry, with failure mode changing from sliding to joint breaking due to the shear key mechanism.