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Designation: C 952 – 91 (Reapproved 1997)e1

Standard Test Method for

Bond Strength of Mortar to Masonry Units1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C 952; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.

e1 NOTE—Section 13 on Keywords was added editorally in November 1997.

1. Scope commercial masonry construction. The bonding in commer-

1.1 This test method provides two procedures for measuring cially built structures is determined by many factors beyond the
bond strength of mortar to masonry units: a crossed brick characteristics of mortar, masonry units, and the procedures of
couplet tensile test for evaluating mortar-brick bonding and a this test method.
stacked-bond, flexural test for evaluating mortar-concrete PREPARATION AND TESTING OF FRESH MORTAR
block bonding.
1.2 This standard does not purport to address the safety 4. Preparation of Mortar
concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility 4.1 Apparatus:
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and 4.1.1 Scales, Weights, and Glass Graduates conforming to
health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory 2.1, 2.2, and 2.4 of Test Method C 190 except that the scales
limitations prior to use. and scale weights shall be of suitable capacity.
2. Referenced Documents 4.1.2 Mixer, Paddle, Mixing Bowl, and Scraper conforming
to 2.1 to 2.4, of Method C 305 except that the mixer, paddle,
2.1 ASTM Standards: and mixing bowl shall have a capacity of 10 qt (0.01 m3) and
C 67 Test Methods of Sampling and Testing Brick and the first or slow speed of the mixer shall revolve the paddle at
Structural Clay Tile2 a rate of 144 6 5 rpm, with a planetary speed of approximately
C 91 Specification for Masonry Cement3
61 rpm. The second speed shall revolve the paddle at a rate of
C 109 Test Method for Compressive Strength of Hydraulic
258 6 10 rpm, with a planetary motion of approximately 109
Cement Mortars (Using 2-in. or 50-mm Cube Specimens)3
rpm.5
C 190 Test Method for Tensile Strength of Hydraulic Ce- 4.1.3 Stop Clock.
ment Mortars3 4.2 Procedure:
C 230 Specification for Flow Table for Use in Tests of
4.2.1 Weigh or measure the proper quantities of aggregates
Hydraulic Cement3
(Note 1), cementing materials, and water needed for the batch.
C 270 Specification for Mortar for Unit Masonry2
The amount of water used shall provide a mortar of wet
C 305 Practice for Mechanical Mixing of Hydraulic Cement
consistency, and the mortar shall preferably be as wet as can
Pastes and Mortars of Plastic Consistency3
conveniently be handled with a mason’s trowel.
C 427 Test Method for Moisture Condition of Hardened
Concrete by the Relative Humidity Method4 NOTE 1—About 400 g of aggregate will provide sufficient mortar for
several bond test specimens.
3. Significance and Use 4.2.2 Charge the mixing bowl with the measured amounts of
3.1 These procedures are useful for research into bonding of aggregate and cementing material. Mix manually with a spoon
masonry. They are not intended to predict the bond strength of for 5 s. Insert the paddle into the mixture. Preset the stop clock
to 10 s before zero time. Set the mixer at No. 1 (slow) speed,
1
approximately 144 rpm.
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C15 on
Manufactured Masonry Units and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee 4.2.3 Simultaneously start the stop clock and the mixer. Mix
C15.04 on Research. Committee E-6 maintains a continued interest in these for 10 s.
practices and will make use of them in the future.
Current edition approved April 15, 1991. Published June 1991. Originally
published as E 149 – 59 T. Redesignated C 952 – 76 in 1981. Last previous edition
C 952 – 86.
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.05.
3 5
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.01. The Model C100 mixer manufactured by the Hobart Mfg. Co., Troy, OH has
4
Discontinued, see 1980 Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Part 16. been found satisfactory for this purpose.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

1
 NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
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C 952 – 91 (1997)e1
4.2.4 At zero time and at a continuing slow speed, add the specimens. After mortar for bond test specimens has been
major portion (approximately 95 %) of the mixing water within taken from the board, determine the air content of the mortar
10 s. Continue mixing for an additional 10 s. remaining on the board.
4.2.5 Stop the mixer. Change quickly to No. 2 (fast) speed 7.2.2 Final—Determine the weight of 400 mL of mortar as
(about 260 rpm) and resume mixing. Continue mixing for a specified in 20.1 of Specification C 91, except that the mortar
total of 2 min elapsed time starting from zero time. is not necessarily tempered to an initial flow of 110 %.
4.2.6 Stop the mixer. Let the mortar stand in the bowl for 10 7.3 Calculation—Calculate the air content of the mortar in
min with the bowl covered with a slotted lid, permitting the accordance with Section 22 of Specification C 91, except that
paddle to remain in the mortar. Before placement of the lid the specific gravity of the sand (value S2 in the equation) shall
within the first 15 s of the 10-min waiting period, quickly be that of the sand used in the mortar.
scrape down into the batch with a rubber scraper any mortar
that may have collected on the side of the bowl. 8. Compressive Strength of Mortar
NOTE 2—If the mortar is one that tends to segregate and in which the
8.1 Apparatus—Specimen molds, tamper, trowel, and test-
fines stick to the bottom of the bowl, the paddle may be temporarily ing machine conforming to 3.5, 3.8, 3.9, and 3.10 of Test
removed and the scraper applied to the extreme bottom of the bowl to Method C 109.
bring up such fines as may have adhered to the bowl bottom. 8.2 Procedure—Preparation of specimen molds and mold-
4.2.7 Remove the cover, change to No. 1 (slow) speed, and ing of test specimens shall conform to Sections 7 and 8.4 of
mix for 30 s. Add the remainder of the mixing water during the Method C 109. Fill the molds after determination of the weight
first part of this 30-s interval. Stop the mixer, change promptly of 400 mL of the mortar in accordance with 5.2.2 of this test
to No. 2 (fast) speed, and finish by mixing for an additional 30 method.
s. 8.3 Storage of Test Specimens—Store mortar cubes in
accordance with 11.2.2 of Specification C 270.
5. Initial Flow of Mortar
PREPARATION AND TESTING OF BOND STRENGTH
5.1 Apparatus—The flow table and flow mold shall con-
TEST SPECIMENS
form to the requirements of Specification C 230.
5.2 Procedure—Immediately after final mixing of the mor- 9. Apparatus
tar, determine the initial flow of mortar from the bowl in
9.1 Miscellaneous—Brass-covered mortar board 18 in. (457
accordance with 8.3 of Test Method C 109 excepting the
mm) square, an 11-in. (279-mm) long mason’s trowel, labora-
reference to trial mortars at the end of that section. Discard that
tory trowel with straight edges, short handled spoon or scoop
portion of the mortar used to determine the initial flow.
of 1⁄4-cup (0.5-dm3) capacity, steel straightedge 10 in. (254
NOTE 3—The high flow of some mortars makes it advisable to drop the mm) long, metal mold 1⁄2 in. (13 mm) deep with 35⁄8-in.
table less than 25 drops before measuring the flow. When calculating the (92-mm) square opening beveled to slope of 0.08 (total 0.04),
initial flow for 25 drops of such mortars, the measured flow should be splash board (Fig. 1) with handle 20 in. (508 mm) long and 3
increased by adding two percentage points of flow for each drop of the
table less than 25.
in. (76 mm) wide.
9.2 Drop Hammer for crossed-brick couplets (Fig. 2, Table
6. Water Retention of Mortar 1).
6.1 Apparatus—Water retention apparatus shall conform to 9.3 Drop Hammer for block assemblies (Fig. 3).
the requirements for the apparatus in Section 25 of Specifica- 9.4 Loading Jigs for crossed-brick couplets (Fig. 4).
tion C 91. 9.5 Frames (Fig. 5) for testing block assemblies: upper
6.2 Procedure—Immediately after measuring the initial frame fitted with ball bearing mounted 10 in. (254 mm) from
flow, remix the mortar remaining in the bowl for 15 s; then vertical axis of specimen for eccentric application of vertical
determine the flow after suction and the water retention of the load. Fig. .
mortar in accordance with the requirements of Sections 28 and 9.6 Torque Wrench.
29 of Specification C 91. 10. Crossed-Brick Couplets
NOTE 4—The number of drops of the flow table shall be the same as 10.1 Brick—Test specimens consisting of crossed-brick
that used to determine the initial flow and, excepting that the mortar is not
couplets may be used to determine:
necessarily tempered to an initial flow of 110 % and that the mortar used
for determining the initial flow is discarded and not returned to mixing 10.1.1 Bond between specified brick and a specified mortar,
bowl, the procedure shall be in accordance with the specified require- 10.1.2 Relative bond between different brick and a specified
ments. mortar, or
10.1.3 Relative bond between a specified brick and different
7. Air Content of Mortar mortars.
7.1 Apparatus—Measure, straightedge, spatula, and other 10.1.4 In each case, the initial rate of absorption of the brick
needed apparatus conforming to 18.1 of Specification C 91. shall be determined in accordance with Section 29 of Methods
7.2 Procedure: C 67. For 10.1.1, the brick used for couplets should include the
7.2.1 Preliminary—Place the mortar remaining in the mix- full range of absorption rates acceptable under the specifica-
ing bowl after filling the suction cup for water retention test on tions. For 10.1.3, absorption rates of the brick should be limited
a mortar board and use for the fabrication of bond test to a range of 15 g.

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C 952 – 91 (1997)e1

FIG. 1 Splash Board

FIG. 2 Drop Hammer for Cross-Brick Couplets

10.2 Construction of Test Specimens: spoon above the top of the mold. Strike off excess mortar with
10.2.1 Dump the mortar remaining in mixing bowl after the straightedge, starting on a diagonal across the mold and
removal of the quantity needed for measurement of the initial working first to one corner and then to the opposite corner of
flow and water retention on the mortar board and note its the mold. Remove the mold from the mortar bed.
temperature. 10.2.4 At the end of the 1-min time interval, place the upper
10.2.2 Center the mold on the lower brick of the couplet and brick on the mortar bed in a crosswise direction to the lower
lightly mix a small quantity of mortar on the board by turning brick. Place the frame of the hammer on the top brick with the
over with the spoon. weight of the hammer held in the other hand. Drop the hammer
10.2.3 Half-fill the mold by sharply dashing into each in a frame a distance of 11⁄2 in. (38 mm).
corner and the center of the mold a small quantity of mortar 10.2.5 Measure and record the extrusion of the mortar on
from the half-filled spoon. Note the time at start of a 1-min the top surface of the lower brick. Cut away extruded mortar
interval. Apply additional mortar by heaping loosely with the from all four edges of the mortar bed.

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C 952 – 91 (1997)e1
TABLE 1 Metric Equivalents for Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6
Inch-Pound Metric Inch-Pound Metric Inch-Pound Metric
1 / 16 in. 1.6 mm 1 ⁄ in.
34 44 mm 5 in. 127 mm
1⁄8 in. 3 mm 17⁄8in. 48 mm 51⁄4 in. 133 mm
3 / 16 in. 4.7 mm 2 in. 51 mm 53⁄4 in. 146 mm
1⁄4 in. 6.4 mm 21⁄8in. 54 mm 6 in. 152 mm
3⁄8 in. 9.5 mm 21⁄4in. 57 mm 61⁄4 159 mm
7 / 16 in. 11 mm 23⁄8 in. 61 mm 71⁄2 in. 190 mm
1⁄2 in. 12.7 mm 21⁄2in. 64 mm 8 in. 203 mm
5⁄8 in. 15.8 mm 25⁄8in. 67 mm 81⁄2 in. 216 mm
3⁄4 in. 19 mm 3 in. 76 mm 93⁄4 in. 248 mm
7 / 8 in. 22 mm 31⁄8 in. 79 mm 103⁄4 in. 273 mm
1 in. 25 mm 31⁄4 in. 82 mm 16 in. 406 mm
11⁄8 in. 28 mm 31⁄2in. 89 mm 161⁄2 in. 419 mm
13⁄16 in. 30 mm 35⁄8in. 92 mm 183⁄4 in. 476 mm
11⁄4 in. 32 mm 33⁄4in. 95 mm 28 in. 711 mm
13⁄8 in. 35 mm 4 in. 102 mm 2 lb 0.9 kg
11⁄2 in. 38 mm 43⁄4in. 121 mm 3.5 lb 1.6 kg

FIG. 3 Drop Hammer for Concrete Block Assemblies

10.3 Curing—Promptly enclose the test specimen within an the joint at the top of the mortar bed in the great majority of tests.
airtight covering. Keep covered for 7 days. Remove the cover NOTE 6—Reproducibility of test results may be improved by the
and store until tested. Unless otherwise specified, the specimen insertion of strips of high-density insulation board interlayers between the
test specimen and test apparatus.
shall be stored in laboratory air at a relative humidity of at least
50 %. 10.5 Calculation—Calculate the maximum tensile bond
10.4 Testing—Center the specimen between the upper and strength as follows:
lower tripods and place in the testing machine as shown in Fig.
Tensile bond strength, T, psi ~or N/m2! 5 A/B (1)
6. Load the specimen at the rate of 600 lb (2.7 kN)/min or at
a rate sufficient to cause failure in 1 to 2 min. Note and record where:
maximum load and type of failure. A = total applied load, lbf (or N), and
B = cross-sectional area in bond, in.2(or m2).
NOTE 5—The method of making the specimens should ensure failure of

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C 952 – 91 (1997)e1

FIG. 4 Loading Jigs for Crossed-Brick Couplets

FIG. 5 Frames for Testing Concrete Block Assemblies

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C 952 – 91 (1997)e1

FIG. 5 Frames for Testing Concrete Block Assemblies (continued)

FIG. 6 Crossed-Brick Test Assembly Positioned in Testing Machine

11. Concrete Block Assemblies 11.2.2 With a mason’s trowel and technique, apply mortar
11.1 Block—Block used in test specimens shall conform to to the top of the face shell that will be in the compressive face
the desired ASTM specification. The moisture condition of the of the specimen, when tested. The amount of mortar applied
block shall be as specified. In the absence of any other shall be sufficient to produce a bed joint of the desired
specified moisture condition, the block shall be conditioned to thickness in the finished specimen (Note 7). In the absence of
have an equivalent relative humidity of not less than 50 %, any specified thickness, the bed joints in the finished specimen
determined in accordance with Test Method C 427. shall be of a nominal 3⁄8-in. (9.5-mm) thickness.
11.2 Construction of Test Specimens: NOTE 7—The consistency of the mortar, when made, and the amount of
11.2.1 Position the bottom block of the assembly on a metal water used in the mortar shall have been adjusted to meet the requirements
pallet with the thickest part of the face shells upwards. Lightly for the proper joint thickness of concrete block assemblies.
turn over and remix the mortar on the board with a mason’s 11.2.3 Hold the splash board along the top of the opposite
trowel. face shell (the shell that will be in the tensile face of the

6
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C 952 – 91 (1997)e1
specimen) and with the mason’s trowel lightly loaded, sharply 11.5 Calculation—Calculate the maximum flexural bond
dash a thin bed of mortar on the top of this shell as shown in strength of the section for the gross and the net section of the
Fig. 7. Remove the splash board. Note the time for the start of specimen, taken normal to the face shells, as follows:
a 1-min interval. Load the trowel and build up the mortar bed fg 5 ~xPc/Ig! 2 ~P/Ag! (2)
by gently rolling or dropping a sufficient amount of additional
fn 5 ~xPc/In! 2 ~P/An!
mortar.
11.2.4 At the end of the 1-min time interval, pick up and where:
level the upper block of the assembly on the mortar beds by fg = flexural bond stress on gross area, psi (or N/m2)
bringing the block downward and forward to one end of the fn = flexural bond stress on net area, psi (or N/m2),
lower block. The upper block shall be placed with the thin edge x = lever arm of load about vertical axis of specimen, in.
of the face shells in the mortar. (or m),
11.2.5 Immediately position the drop hammer frame at the P = applied load, lbf (or N),
c = distance from neutral axis to face of specimen, in. (or
center of the upper block, holding the weight of the hammer in
m),
the other hand. Drop the hammer in the tubular frame a
Ig = moment of inertia of gross section, in.4 (or m4),
distance of 4 in. (102 mm). Remove the drop hammer. No In = moment of inertia of net section, in.4(or m4),
further adjustment of the top block on its bed shall be made. b = length of block, in. (or m),
11.2.6 Measure and record the extrusion of mortar from the d = width of block, in. (or m),
faces of the specimen. Cut extruded mortar away with the t = minimum thickness of face shell, in. (or m),
mason’s trowel. Tool the joints with a rounded iron. Ag = gross area of section = bd, in.2(or m2), and
11.3 Curing—Promptly enclose the specimen in an airtight An = net area of section = 2bt, in.2(or m2).
covering. Keep covered for 7 days. Remove the cover and store 12. Precision and Bias
until tested. Unless otherwise specified, the specimen shall be
12.1 Variability is a characteristic of masonry bonding.
stored in laboratory air at a relative humidity of at least 50 %.
Round robin testing has not been performed on these methods.
11.4 Testing—Clamp the specimen in the lower and upper Coefficients of variation of 15 to 35 % are commonplace in
test frames by tightening the screws of the test frames with a published investigations using the methods of this standard.
torque wrench (see Fig. 8). Center the ball bearing on the upper
test frame in the testing machine. Apply a vertical load to the 13. Keywords
specimen at the rate of 600 lbf (2.7 kN)/min or at a rate 13.1 band; concrete block; crossed brick couplet; mortar;
sufficient to cause failure in 1 to 2 min. masonry

FIG. 7 Preparing Concrete Block Test Assembly

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C 952 – 91 (1997)e1

FIG. 8 Concrete Block Test Assembly Positioned in Testing Machine

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