Cyclic compressive loading-unloading curves of brick masonry

Experimental investigation into the cyclic behaviour of sand plast brick masonry was performed on forty two square panels. The panels were subjected to cyclic uniaxial compression for two cases of loading: normal to bed joint and parallel to bed joint. Experimental data were used to plot the unloading-reloading curves for the entire range of the stress-strain curve. Mathematical expressions to predict the reloading and unloading stress-strain curves at various values of residual strain are proposed. A simple parabola and an exponential type formula are found adequate to model the unloading and reloading curves respectively. The models account for the potential effects of residual strain on these curves. Comparison of test results with the proposed mathematical expression shows good correspondence.