Investigation of the impacts of plaster and joint mortar types on the behavior of pumice-filled wall frames

This study aimed to investigate the behavior of frames with pumice infill walls. Three series of test specimens were prepared and tested under monotonic loading. The series included non-plastered, single-face plastered, and double-face plastered specimens. Traditional joint mortar and pumice joint mortar were used in the specimen preparation. In total, 18 test specimens were tested, with three identical specimens prepared for each configuration. The influence of mortar type and plaster condition on the behavior mechanism of pumice infill walls was evaluated. The results indicate that pumice joint mortar enhances strength and reduces relative stiffness compared to traditional joint mortar, while also improving interlocking between pumice blocks. The non-plastered test specimens exhibited higher stiffness compared to the specimens plastered on one or both sides. The plastered specimens exhibited higher strength and stiffness, but lower energy absorption capacity and displacement ductility. Joint separation can be prevented by applying plaster on both sides. Walls constructed with Pumice infill, plastered on both sides and using pumice joint mortar, exhibit improved overall behavior mechanism.