Influence of special masonry mortar additive on mechanical properties of small block masonry

Experimental study is made on influence of special masonry mortar additive for small concrete block on basic mechanical properties of the concrete block masonry such as compression strength and shear strength of the section along continuous seam based on the existing test method standard for masonry basic mechanical properties and code for design of masonry structures.The results show that incorporation of special mortar additive although reduces the design value of compression strength of small concrete block masonry to different degree,it can still meet the requirement of compression strength design value of masonry specified in the code.Average value of block masonry shear strength of the section along continuous seam increases as special mortar additive increases,but only when the special masonry mortar additive replaces all of the lime paste,block masonry shear strength design value of the section along continuous seam can meet the requirement of masonry shear strength design value specified in the code and its mechanism is discussed as well.