Existing terra cotta structural properties

[civg]

I am trying to find a reference that can provide information on the compressive strength of existing terra cotta masonry from 1936. Any feedback would be appreciated.

 

[ishvaaag]

I think one will find very variegated results for that question, it will depend a lot on what brick and what mortar. I saw of tests of a 1715 about 90 m tall tower for a church with gypsum mortar that had short stub strength of 35 kgf/cm2. Normally masonry built in 1936 in some industrialized context should have far bigger strengths, twice or thrice that, even accounting (ordinary) degradation of strength with age.

 

[Brad805]

Another concern is the quality of the construction. We are finishing up a reno project that had terra cotta that was concealed with parging and not that we have some of the finish off I am convinced some of the blocks were thrown into place.

 

[samdamon]

You need a "Brick and Tile Engineering Handbook of Design" book, by Harry C Plummer, published by structural clay products institute. My copy is from 1950 but I beleive there are earlier versions.
It has load some load tables and structural data.

Regards