Mortise–tenon grouted masonry showed improved compressive behavior

What the study found: Mortise-and-tenon grouted masonry (a masonry system with interlocking joints and grouted cores) showed improved compressive behavior, and the study identified factors that affect its strength, deformation capacity, and failure modes.
Why the authors say this matters: The authors conclude that the findings provide a theoretical foundation and practical calculation tools for the structural design and engineering application of mortise-and-tenon grouted masonry.
What the researchers tested: The researchers combined experimental testing with numerical simulation of axial and eccentric compression. They developed a refined three-dimensional finite element model in DIANA, then used 52 numerical models to examine block strength, core material type, wall thickness, steel fiber content, and geometric ratios.
What worked and what didn't: Steel fiber-reinforced concrete (SFRC) as the core filling material significantly improved ductility and toughness; with 1.6% SFRC, ultimate strain increased by about 37%. Increasing eccentricity from 0.1 to 0.3 reduced load-bearing capacity by an average of 40%, and the study also derived axial-compression formulas, a stress-strain relationship with a parabolic rising branch and linear descending branch (R² = 0.992), and an eccentric-compression design method that was more accurate than existing code provisions.
What to keep in mind: The abstract does not provide detailed limitations beyond the tested conditions. The reported results are based on the specific experimental setup, numerical models, and parameter ranges described in the study.

Key points

• Mortise-and-tenon grouted masonry showed improved compressive behavior.
• SFRC core filling significantly increased ductility and toughness.
• Using 1.6% SFRC increased ultimate strain by about 37%.
• Raising eccentricity from 0.1 to 0.3 lowered load-bearing capacity by about 40% on average.
• A stress-strain model with a parabolic ascending branch and linear descending branch was established (R² = 0.992).