Some inexpensive methods of confining grouted concrete masonry

Concrete masonry walls are grouted either to increase their load bearing capacity at the support trusses or crossbeams or to allow the placement of reinforcing steel. Unfortunately, grouted masonry fails at stress levels lower than that of hollow masonry due to incompatible lateral deformation of the grout and the concrete masonry shell. Realising the importance of confining the grout to enhance the compressive strength of masonry, two inexpensive materials readily available in the market, namely fine wire mesh (FWM) and welded wire mesh (WWM) were used. Relative to the unconfined prisms, the FWM and WWM confined prisms exhibited 28% and 37% increase in the masonry compressive strength respectively.