SUGGESTED FAILURE CRITERIA FOR GROUTED CONCRETE MASONRY UNDER AXIAL COMPRESSION.

The failure mechanisms for grouted concrete masonry are described and the corresponding failure criteria are developed. These criteria account for the interaction of the block, mortar, and grout under multiaxial states of stress. The formulations were developed in a generalized form to be able to account for any strength or geometric characteristics such as the net to gross area ratio of the block, tapering of the grout cores, joint thickness, and ungrouted masonry. The predicted ultimate strengths using the proposed criteria are compared with experiental results for ungrouted and grouted prisms incorporating a range of mortar and grout strengths.