Investigation of Interlock Geometry Sizes Effect on the Shear Capacity of Dry-Joint Interlocking Core Block Masonry
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63746/njtd.v23i1.4515Keywords:
Core interlocking block, Interlock depth and thickness, Dry-stacked joint, Compressed soil block, Shear behavior, Finite element analysisAbstract
Interlocking compressed earth block structure is a dry-stacked system that relies on geometric interlocking rather than mortar. The shear behavior of these structures is linked to the interlock geometry, especially the thickness and depth of the interlocking mechanism. This study examines the in-plane shear behavior of dry-stacked interlocking core block using a finite element triplet shear simulation model in Abaqus, focusing on how interlock thickness and depth influence shear strength, peak displacement, and failure modes. An experimental test was performed with the optimum interlock sizes obtained from the numerical simulation. The results indicate that the shear strength increases with interlock thickness but drops beyond 35mm (11.6% of the block length) due to a significant reduction in the residual soil interface on the female (depression) part. The findings also reveal that changes in interlock thickness have a greater effect on both strength and deformation capacity than changes in interlock depth. Shear strength ranges from 0.08 to 0.25 MPa, representing a 3.1-fold improvement (210% increase) from the thicknesses of 5mm to 35mm (2%-11.6% of the block length). In a similar range of depth, shear strength varies from 0.24 to 0.36 MPa, a 1.5-fold (50% increase) increase. These findings indicate the important role of interlock geometry in the shear performance of dry-stacked joints. The failure mode was characterized by early crushing of the interlock protrusions at thinner thicknesses, whereas at thicker thicknesses, both the interlock protrusions and the residual soil interface on the female face sustained significant damage. These findings emphasize the potential of core interlocking masonry in regions vulnerable to wind and seismic activity
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