Seismic analysis of interlocking block in wall-foundation-soil system

An interlocking mortar less concrete masonry block is a innovative structural component for masonry building construction. In this study an attempt was made to analyse a special interlocking mortarless hollow concrete block system which was developed by the Housing Research Center of University Putra Malaysia. The system was subjected to earthquake loading using the finite element method. An analysis was conducted on the hollow block wall, foundation and soil interaction. For this purpose, a finite element program was developed to analyze the masonry system under earthquake excitation. In order to account for the dry joint contact between the blocks, foundation and soil mass, an interface element was used. The response of the mortarless block wall with respect to displacement, stress and acceleration subjected to earthquake was studied and the effect of applying dry interlocking joints for connection of the block on seismic response of the system investigated. An interlocking mortar less concrete masonry block building system was developed as a new structural component for masonry building construction. The interlocking mortar less block system will reduce con- struction time and cost of construction. Interlocking mortar less load bearing hollow block system is dif- ferent from conventional mortared masonry system as the mortar layers are eliminated and instead the block units are interconnected through interlocking protru- sions and grooves. Numerous analytical models have been developed to simulate the behaviour of the dif- ferent types of structural masonry systems using the finite element (FE) technique.