Paper Contents
Abstract
The effectiveness of unreinforced clay brick masonry is significantly influenced by the characteristics of the mortar used, especially its type and joint thickness. Despite its widespread application, existing design guidelines provide limited insight into how these variables affect long-term durability and load resistance. This paper synthesizes key findings from recent experimental and analytical studies (20102025), focusing on the structural performance of masonry elements under compressive and shear loading. Cement-based mortars consistently exhibit higher load-carrying capacity compared to lime mortars, particularly when applied with a joint thickness of approximately 13 mm. Thicker joints, on the other hand, tend to reduce stiffness and introduce failure-prone zones. This review also discusses advancements in modified mortar technologies and outlines current challenges that hinder their standardization in practice.
Copyright
Copyright © 2025 Sudhir Kumar Yadav. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.
