Flexural Tension in Unreinforced Masonry

Unreinforced masonry is that in which the tensile strength of the masonry is taken into consideration in design. Allowable out-of-plane tensile stress values are a function of the mortar type, such as Portland cement/lime mortar vs. masonry cement mortar or type M or S mortar vs. type N mortar. The allowable tensile stress is also a function of the masonry construction, such as tension parallel vs. perpendicular to the bed joint, solid units vs. hollow units, or grouted vs. ungrouted construction. The design of unreinforced masonry walls subjected to eccentric axial loads outside the kern or out-of-plane loads will often be governed by the allowable tensile strength.