As part of its 7th framework programme, the EU is funding a project called INSYSME, in which 16 partners from six countries (Portugal, Italy, Germany, Greece, Romania and Turkey) are participating. Its goal is to improve the performance of brick masonry enclosures subject to horizontal loading.

The project‘s German research partners are Kassel University, Department of Civil Engineering, Noncombustible Construction; SDA Engineering in Herzogenrath; and the masonry brick task force Arbeitsgemeinschaft Mauerziegel. The main objective of the German partners is to characterize the essential properties of brick masonry serving as infill walls (enclosures) in reinforced-concrete buildings.

The first part of the project is focussing on the determination of flexural strength according to the harmonized European test method described in DIN EN 1052-2. Initial findings are presented.

In subsequent phases of the project continuing until October 2016, full-scale walls will be subjected to horizontal and vertical loads, the goal being to validate a design model for brick masonry enclosures, including investigation of various means of attachment and reinforcement.

This project has received funding from the European Union´s Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement No. 606229

Dr.-Ing. Udo Meyer, Arbeitsgemeinschaft Mauerziegel
within Bundesverband der Deutschen Ziegelindustrie e.V.