The characterization of joint behaviour in mortarless refractory masonry

The understanding of the compressive and tangential behaviour of mortarless joints is mandatory to optimize the design of refractory linings. The joints play an important role during the heating of the equipment, as they reduce the stresses generated due to thermal expansion. This study investigates the normal and tangential behaviour of joints in alumina spinel bricks. The mechanical characterization of the compressive strength of the material is performed at room and elevated temperature. During fabrication this brick, it is pressed, therefore, tests were performed in pressing and orthogonal-to-pressing direction. The thickness of joints is estimated based on a compressive test in two stacked bricks, the joint closure is an nonlinear and strongly heterogeneous and nonlinear phenomena. The determination of the friction angle and friction coefficient of the bricks were performed based on a slipping test.European Commission, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Innovative Training Networks in the frame of the project ATHOR - Advanced THermomechanical multiscale modelling of Refractory linings 764987 Gran