Masonry structures are widely used nowadays for their advantages like low-cost workmanship, efficiency and fast construction techniques. The compressive strength of the materials that compose masonry (block and mortar) is very important to the behavior of the system, but the tensile strength is even more significant for the standards and building codes. In this work, a dataset for indirect tensile tests of hollow concrete blocks is obtained. Splitting tests as described in ASTM C-1006-13 are applied. Two sets of blocks were tested, one with medium compressive strength and the other with high compressive strength. The first set was tested in three directions named A, B, and C; the second one was tested in two directions, A and B. The data was collected with a servo-hydraulic machine. The data is presented in tables and can be used by material researchers, as well as in numerical modeling.

Different loading conditions cause different tensile stress patterns in masonry structures. Several studies related to masonry behavior use indirect tensile tests to obtain that value, where the splitting test from ASTM-C-1006 is usually employed. In this paper, an experimental analysis of the tensile strength of hollow concrete blocks is reported. Different locations of the rod from the ASTM-C-1006 splitting test were analyzed. The tensile strength was evaluated in four different ways, placing the rod: (1) in the transversal direction over the gross area, (2) in the transversal direction over the net area, (3) in the longitudinal direction, and (4) 200 mm from the central region of the block in the longitudinal direction. The obtained results were compared with the tensile strength values measured from the direct tensile test in the longitudinal direction. In addition, an axial compressive test was performed to characterize the blocks, and a discussion about the tensile/compression ratio is shown. The experimental results from the splitting tests show that for each configuration setup, the tensile stress is different. The main result was that the splitting test over the net area with the rod positioned in the longitudinal direction can overestimate the tensile strength by more than 21% of the one over the gross area.

Spiral ties with rectangular cross sections have been developed as a new technology in construction, reducing the workforce in the reinforcement production series, because the worker does not have to place the tie reinforcement for the columns on the construction site. In this paper, a new type of tie was evaluated in short tie-columns subjected to axial compression to be applied in confined masonry. A comparison was made in this paper among spiral ties, with circular and rectangular cross sections, and traditional closed ties. The main aim of this research is to prove that these rectangular cross-section spiral ties can be used in tie columns for confined masonry structures. Twenty-one specimens were tested to investigate their structural behavior. As a part of the results, maximum loads, strains, load-displacement curves, and stress-strain relationships, were obtained based on testing standards, for both specimens and component materials. In addition, the fracture energy in compression and the ductility index were assessed. These results demonstrate that spiral ties with rectangular cross sections have an efficient structural response compared to traditional and circular spiral ties.

Many dwellings in the world are built using confined masonry walls. Confinement is achieved by tie-columns and bond beams of reinforced concrete. These tie columns are traditionally reinforced by using closed-loop ties. In this paper, a new type of ties for tie columns is presented: strapping spiral ties. These strapping ties are compared against traditional ties by a three-dimensional micro-numerical model and the experimental behavior of short tie columns. This study resulted in an improvement in the compressive strength, in the degree of confinement of the concrete, and in the efficiency of tie-columns with strapping spiral ties. In addition, an increase in the stiffness at the unloading stage was also obtained.