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
