Experimental Work on Shear Behaviour of Masonry Wall Using Local Mortar and Traditional Solid Clay Brick

Indonesia is located in a high seismic zone, making the shear performance of masonry walls a key factor in the safety of simple buildings. The characteristics of bricks and mortar vary between regions in Indonesia due to differences in materials, production processes, and local practices. This study aims to assess shear performance of masonry walls made with brick units from local traditional manufacturers and local mortar in Aceh, western Indonesia. The evaluation was conducted experimentally using diagonal compression tests and direct triplet specimen tests in accordance with standards. In this regard, 3 types of mortar ratios are being used, namely 1:3, 1:4, and 1:5 (binder-sand ratio). It is found that the bricks produced in Aceh (western Indonesia) have lower compressive strength than the locally used mortar. This research concludes that shear capacity for masonry walls can be determined using either the triplet test or the diagonal tension test, and both methods typically yield comparable shear strength values. The mortar in all cases governs the masonry failure mechanism under shear loading for triplet and diagonal tension specimens. It was also observed that higher cement proportions in mortar lead to greater compressive and shear strength.