American Academic Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences
Abstract
Masonry triplet is formed by three and half bricks keeping the same type of bond exhibited in a brick wall. The triplet has been investigated by researchers as an indicator of lateral loading capacity of masonry wall. Although strength is an important parameter in determining the property of triplet, displacement capacity is significant specially for the cases of lateral loads such as wind load or earthquake load. Experimental investigations carried out to determine the effect of plastering and ferrocement in masonry triplets in terms of both shear strength and strain at maximum stress. The study identified several parameters that affect these properties e.g. mortar strength, mortar thickness, compressive strength of brick, plastering layer thickness, diameter of the wire mesh, and amount of wire mesh. Equations have been proposed to determine the shear strength and strain at maximum stress of the triplet based on these factors. Bond strength was found to be the key factor for the failure of the triplets. It can be inferred that the construction in Bangladesh lack the bond strength in the horizontal bed surface, decreasing both the load and displacement capacity of the brick wall. Ferrocement can be used as a retrofitting technique as it has been found from the tests that laminating the triplet surface with ferrocement prevents sudden collapse and confines the triplet so that the shear strength and strain at maximum stress increase.
