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Comparative Performance of Masonry Bond Patterns

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 Annual Transactions of IESL. pp. 38-46 ,2008
~: The Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka

Comparative Performance of Masonry Bond Patterns

C. Jayasinghe, H.D.D.Lakmali and M.P.Rohitha

Abstract: In order to make the houses aesthetically more appealing, different bond patterns are used
in bonded masonry. This is mainly done in brick masonry. In some cases, walls are left unplastered to
expose the brickwork bonded with different patterns. This paper covers a detailed study on the
performance of commonly used bond patterns in Sri Lanka such as English, Flemish and Rat-trap.

The main parameters covered are the vertical load carrying capacity and the indoor thermal
performance of different bond patterns. The vertical load carrying capacity was assessed by testing
wall panels and found that the Flemish bond can give a better carrying capacity.

Indoor thermal performance of different bond patterns was assessed by measuring indoor and
outdoor temperature using physical models. Rat-trap bond shows better thermal performance
compared to the others. With all these findings, now the house builders, architects and engineers can
select the masonry bond pattern suitable for their structures with the proper understanding of its
performance.

1. Introduction 3. Methodology

For the aesthetic appeal, different masonry In order to achieve the above objectives, the
bond patterns can be used with brick walls. following methodology was adopted:
There are several bond patterns available in Sri
Lanka such as stretcher bond, header bond, a. Wall panels were constructed with
English bond, Flemish bond and recently burnt clay bricks using English, Flemish and
introduced Rat-trap bond. Although the same Rat-trap bond which can be used for the 225
masonry thickness can be obtained by most of mm thick walls.
the bond patterns, the key strength parameter, b. The wall panels were tested for
compressive strength can be different from one compressive strength after 28 days of
to the other. Bond pattern can also introduce construction.
an impact on indoor thermal comfort. This c. Three models were constructed with
study has been aimed at the comparative different masonry bond patterns (English,
performance of three main bond patterns, Flemish and Rat-trap) to monitor the
which can be used to construct 200 to 230 mm temperature variation.
thick external walls. d. Temperature variations were observed
and graphically presented for the analysis.
The performance was limited to the key
strength parameter, the compressive strength
and the indoor thermal performance. There is
also an on-going research on flexural strength
of different masonry bond patterns and the
results will be published shortly.

2. Objectives Ellg. (Dr.) Mrs. C. [aijasinghe, B. Se. Ellg. (HailS), M.Ellg,

PhD, CEllg, MIE (Sri Lanka), Senior lecturer, Department of
This research was carried out with the main Civil Engineering, Llniuersirf of Moratutoa.Senior Lecturer,
objective of determining the following: Department of Civil Engineering, University of Moratuum
a. Compressive strength of different Ms. H D D Lakmali, BSe Ellg.(Holls), Fil1al ycar
Undergraduate, Department of Civil Engineering, Uniuersitv o]
masonry bond patterns tvtomtuum
b. Influence of bond pattern on indoor M P Rohitha, BSe Eng.it-ions), Fil1al ycar Undergradunte,
thermal performance Department of Civil Engineering, Uniuersitu of Momtuuia

r;
...
',
ENGINEER 38
sunny months, March and April were selected
for the study.
5.2.1 The models
Since the orientation of the building has a
greater influence on indoor.thermal comfort [7],
the orientation of the models was selected to
have the heavy wall facing east. Three bond
patterns such as English, Flemish and Rat-trap
were compared in terms of indoor thermal
comfort levels by monitoring the inner, outer
surface temperatures and outside air
temperature. The internal dimension of a model
is about 750 mm (length) x 750 mm (width) x
700 mm (height) with about 0.5 m? area of
walling surface. Figure 7 shows all the
experimental models.
The walls were of abou t 230 mm thick in all the
models, which cover one side of the model. All
other sides were covered by plywood sheets
and the roof was out of cement-fiber sheets. In
order to simulate a real case with a window,
small openings were kept in each model, facing
north and south directions. Except the bond
pattern, all other aspects were kept constant so
that the effect of bond pattern can be
quantified.
All the models were kept one month under
ambient conditions. Temperature readings
were taken in the second month. Inner and
outer surface temperature readings were taken
every 5 minutes during day and night time for
three consecutive days. This was repeated
about four times over March and April. Bright
sunny days were selected for the experiment.
The equipment consists of thermo couples,
which could be fixed on to the wall (inner and
outer surfaces) and to a data logger. Similar
climatic conditions prevailed during the testing
period. A dummy model was constructed
next to the Rat-trap bond in order to create
similar shading conditions for all three models.
Black polythene sheets were used to isolate the
models. The height of the polythene cover was
1.2 m. Figure 7 shows a picture of the models.
Chart 2 shows the difference in indoor and
outdoor temperature variation during the
daytime whereas Chart 3 shows the difference
between the outer and inner surface
temperature for each bond pattern over 24
hours. When the temperature difference is
taken, the amount of heat transfer through each
ENGINEER
wall panel is independent of the microclimate
near the models.
6. Analysis of results
Table 1, which presents the results of
compressive strength testing shows that the
Flemish bond can take the highest compressive
load and the Rat-trap bond, can take the lowest
load. When the magnitudes of the
characteristic compressive strength are
considered, the values are 2.58 Njmm2, 2.62
Njmm2, 1.38 Njmm2 for Flemish, English and
Rat-trap bonds respectively. The 230 mm
Flemish and English bonds are showing very
good load carrying capacity even suitable for
load bearing masonry walls. Rat-trap bond
can take lower compressive load, which is
suitable for either single storey or infill panels
of a structure with a concrete frame. The
strength required at the plinth level of a load
bearing two storey house is in the range of 1.5
Njmm2 [8] [9].
When these three bond patterns the compared
for the indoor thermal comfort, Rat-trap bond
has shown the lowest indoor temperature
during the day time when the out door
temperature is the highest. The Chart 3 shows
that the Rat-trap bond behaves much better in
terms of indoor thermal comfort and in the
night time almost all are the same. Therefore,
the Rat-trap bond has advantages as a walling
material when the thermal comfort and cost of
construction are concerned.
Based on two major findings of this research it
can be stated that the Rat-trap bond is ideal as
an infill material or for single storey houses
which can perform better in indoor thermal
comfort. When the load-bearing masonry is
considered the Flemish or English bond
patterns would be used.
The other important parameter which can be
affected by the masonry bond pattern is the
flexural strength of masonry. There is an
ongoing study to determine the effect of bond
pattern on flexural strength and the findings
will be published shortly.
7. Conclusions and Recommendations
Different masonry bond patterns can be
introduced to improve the aesthetic appeal of
masomy structures. Since bond patterns can
introduce different performance variables, it is
important to study the effect of bond pattern on
40
the strength and building performance. This
research has studied such important
parameters on strength and thermal comfort.
Since compressive strength is the main
parameter needed to perform the structural
design of walls, it was studied with three main
bond patterns. Flemish and English bond
patterns can be used as load bearing wall
construction for two or three storey buildings
where as the Rat-trap bond is ideal for infill
walls or single storey construction.
However, the indoor thermal comfort with the
Rat-trap bond is much better than the other two
bond types. Therefore these bond patterns can
be now used in masonry structures with much
confidence since the performance of each b ond
pattern is well established.
Acknowledgements
The authors wish to express their special thanks to
the Senate Research Committee of University of
Moratuwa for providing necessary funds for the
project. The support given by the Tecl1J1ical officers
Mr. SP Madanayake, Mr SL Kapuruge and Mr. GV
Somarathne when constructing the experimental
models is highly appreciated.
41
References
1. Diaz J., de! Coz, Garcia Nido P.J., Biempica C.B.,
Prendes Gero M.B., Analysis and Optimization of the
heat insulating light concrete hollow brick walls
designed by the finite element method, Applied
thermal engineering, Vol 27, No. 8-9, pp14!5 -1456,
Elsevier Ltd ., 2007.
2. ARCHIFACTS,
http://www.archifacts.co.uk/html/brickwork pavi
ng bond patterns.htm
3. BS 5628: PART 1: 1992, CODE OF PRACTICE
FOR USE OF MASONRY, British
4. Standards Institute, United Kingdom
5. Szokolay S.V., ed., 1991. Heating and cooling of
buildings, ew York, Van Hostrand Reinhold, p365.
6. Perera, C.R., Perera, H. :vt, ayanamalie,
2007. Indoor Tlzemznl Comfort with Different Walling
Materials, Final year project report, Department of
Civil Engineering, University of Moratuwa, 2007.
7. Heathcote, K.A., Thermal Performance of a Mud
Brick Test Building. International Symposium on
Earthen Structures, 22-24 August 2007 Bangalore,
Bangalore: Indian Institute of Science, pp.127-132,
2007.
8. Jayasinghe, M., Energy efficient houses for
tropical climates", Colombo ,
McBolon Polymer Pvt. Ltd, 2003.
9. Jayasinghe M. T. R., "Load bearing construction
with local bricks", Engineer, Journal of Institution of
Engineers, Sri Lanka, 27 (1), pp 49-57, 1998.
10. Perera, A., Jayasinghe, C., Strength
characteristics and structural design methods for
compressed earth block walls, Masonry International,
The British Masonry Society, United Kingdom,
January 2003.
ENGINEER ••
 tEEtE iEHB ITIIDJJ
1. a First Course 2.a First Course 3.a First Course

~
[§J D
1. b Second Course 2.b Second Course 3.b Second Course

(1) English Bond (2) Flemish Bond (3) Rat-trap Bond

Figure 1: Bond Patterns

Figure 2: Testing an English bond wall panel

ENGINEER 42
Figure 3: Testing a Flemish bond wall panel

Figure 4: Testing a Rat-trap bond wall panel

43 ENGINEER
 Figure 5: Front View of the models

Figure 6: Rear View of the models

Figure 7: Isolated models with Polythene

II ENGINEER 44
Chart 1: Load deformation curves for three bond patterns

70

60

-:!:
~
50

-
'0
n:J
0
40
30
~English
-Flemish
"*- Rat-trap
...:
20

10

0
0 5 10 15 20
Deformation (mm)

Chart 2: The Temperature difference during the day time

08-08-2007

16,----------------------------------------------------------,

12r-----~~~~~~~--------------------------------------~

Time

- E-Difference F-Difference - R-Difference

45 ENGINEER
 Chart 3: Variation of temperature difference (24 hour readings)

23-04-2008

10 .- •.--.---- .•...--- .. -.-------- - -_. ---- .-- --_.-

~~~~~$~~~~~~~~~~~~~#~~~#~
Time

-E-DifTerence -F·DifTerence -R·DifTerence

Table 1:Wall strength of different bond patterns

Bond pattern Failure stress (Njmm2) Characteristic Compressive

strength (Njmm2)

English 3.09 2.58

Flemish 3.12 2.60

Rat-trap 1.65 1.38

ENGINEER 46

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