Electronic speckle pattern interferometry observation of brick–mortar interface behaviour under compression

The brick–mortar interaction is important in the mechanical behaviour of masonry. It affects the load transfer considerably, as shown by detailed deformation measurements taken using electronic speckle pattern interferometry (ESPI), a laser speckle interference technique. A companion paper [Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering, 34(11), 1475 (2007)] by the authors of this paper argues that the joint is the only part of contemporary masonry significantly affected by manual action, which is why large material variations appear at the brick–mortar interface. To evaluate this phenomenon, ESPI measurements were performed and compared with accompanying linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) results. The behaviour of specimens loaded with various eccentricities was relatively soft in the brick–mortar interface area when compared with the behaviour shown in the surrounding stiff brick and mortar. The brick–mortar interface was characterized by a central part surrounded by fissures. Most of the load was transmitted in the central part. Because of this, the axial strain curve over the width of the specimens was U-shaped for concentrically loaded specimens (i.e., those with zero eccentricity). Over the height of the two-brick one-joint specimen, a smooth, B-shaped lateral strain curve was observed, in which the largest strains were found in the bricks.