Moisture transfer across the interface between brick and mortar joint

This paper reports on experimental and modelling work on moisture transport in masonry, with special attention to the liquid transport across the interface between brick and mortar joint. Experiments and simulations reveal that two aspects need to be taken into account: (1) the dependence of moisture transport properties on the curing of the mortar; (2) the presence of a hydraulic interface resistance between brick and mortar. The resistance is due to imperfect contact between brick and mortar, causing a reduction in flow through the interface compared to the assumption of perfect hydraulic contact.status: publishe