EN 1052-3:2002

Methods of test for masonry - Part 3: Determination of initial shear strength

This European Standard specifies a method for determining the in plane initial shear strength of horizontal bed joints in masonry using a specimen tested in shear.
Guidance is given on the preparation of the specimens, the conditioning required before testing, the testing machine, the method of test, the method of calculation and the contents of the test report.

Prüfverfahren für Mauerwerk - Teil 3: Bestimmung der Anfangsscherfestigkeit (Haftscherfestigkeit)

Diese Europäische Norm legt ein Verfahren zur Bestimmung der in der Tragwerksebene wirkenden Anfangs-
Scherfestigkeit (Haftscherfestigkeit) von horizontalen Lagerfugen in Mauerwerk fest. Dabei wird ein Prüfkörper auf
Abscheren geprüft.
Sie enthält Anleitungen zur Herstellung der Prüfkörper, zu der erforderlichen Konditionierung vor der Prüfung, zur
Prüfmaschine, zum Prüfverfahren, zum Berechnungsverfahren und zum Inhalt des Prüfberichtes.

Méthodes d'essai de la maçonnerie - Partie 3: Détermination de la résistance initiale au cisaillement

La présente norme européenne décrit une méthode de détermination de la résistance initiale au cisaillement dans le plan de joints d'assises horizontaux dans la maçonnerie à l'aide d'un corps d'épreuve soumis à un essai de cisaillement.
Des indications sont données sur la préparation des corps d'épreuve, le conditionnement nécessaire avant l'essai, la machine d'essai, la méthode d'essai, la méthode de calcul et le contenu du rapport d'essai.

Metode preskušanja zidovine - 3. del: Določevanje začetne strižne trdnosti

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 16-Jul-2002
• ICS: 91.080.30 - Masonry
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 125 - Masonry
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 125/WG 4 - Test methods
• Current Stage: 9060 - Closure of 2 Year Review Enquiry - Review Enquiry
• Start Date: 02-Dec-2025
• Completion Date: 02-Dec-2025
• Directive: 305/2011 - Regulation (eu) No 305/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 march 2011 laying down harmonised conditions for the marketing of construction products and repealing council directive 89/106/eec
• Directive: 89/106/EEC - Construction products
• Mandate: M/116 - Mandate to CEN/CENELEC concerning the execution of standardization work for harmonized standards on masonry and related products
• Ref Project: SIST EN 1052-3:2004 - Methods of test for masonry - Part 3: Determination of initial shear strength

Relations

• Amended By: EN 1052-3:2002/A1:2007 - Methods of test for masonry - Part 3: Determination of initial shear strength
• Effective Date: 22-Dec-2008

Overview

EN 1052-3:2002 - Methods of test for masonry - Part 3: Determination of initial shear strength (CEN) specifies a laboratory method to determine the in‑plane initial shear strength of horizontal bed joints in masonry. The standard covers specimen preparation, curing/conditioning, test apparatus and setup, loading procedure, calculations (including derivation of the initial shear strength by regression), and required contents of the test report. It applies where an accurate measure of bed‑joint shear behaviour is needed for design, quality control or research.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Specimens and numbers: At least nine specimens are prepared (typically three precompression levels with three replicates each). Specimen geometry is defined as Type A or Type B depending on unit height (hu ≤ 200 mm or > 200 mm).
• Preparation and curing: Units must be conditioned and laid with representative joint thickness (8–15 mm for conventional mortar or 1–3 mm for thin‑layer mortar). Specimens are cured and tested normally at 28 d ± 1 d unless otherwise specified.
• Precompression levels:
  • For units with compressive strength > 10 N/mm2: approx. 0.2, 0.6 and 1.0 N/mm2.
  • For units with compressive strength < 10 N/mm2: approx. 0.1, 0.3 and 0.5 N/mm2.
  • Precompression must be held within ±2%.
• Loading and instrumentation:
  • Shear loading by four‑point shear arrangement with roller bearings (roller diameter 12 mm).
  • Shear stress increase rate: 0.1 to 0.4 N/(mm2·min).
  • Testing machines must meet accuracy/repeatability requirements (repeatability and mean error ±2%, zero error ≤ 0.4% of range).
• Calculations and evaluation:
  • Individual shear strength and precompression stress are calculated from measured loads and specimen cross‑sectional area.
  • Plot fvoi (shear strength) vs fpi (normal stress) and determine the initial shear strength fvo as the intercept from linear regression to zero normal stress.
  • Angle of internal friction is obtained from the slope; characteristic values are obtained as 0.8 × mean (fvok = 0.8 fvo).
• Reporting: The standard lists required report items: specimen details, unit/mortar descriptions and strengths, individual results, mean and characteristic shear strength, failure modes, curing, test age, remarks.

Applications and users

• Who uses it: materials and structural testing laboratories, masonry product manufacturers, research institutions, structural engineers and compliance bodies.
• Practical uses:
  • Provide laboratory input data for masonry design (shear capacity of bed joints).
  • Quality control of mortars, masonry units, and bonding.
  • Comparative testing for new materials, thin‑joint systems, or restoration work.
  • Support for structural assessments and forensic investigations where shear behaviour of joints is critical.

Related standards

Normative references used by EN 1052-3 include:

• EN 772-1, EN 772-10, EN 772-16 (masonry unit tests)
• EN 998-2 (masonry mortar specification)
• EN 1015-3, EN 1015-7, EN 1015-11 (mortar test methods)

Keywords: EN 1052-3, initial shear strength, masonry shear test, bed joint shear, masonry testing, precompression, shear strength test method.

Standards Content (Sample)

2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.Prüfverfahren für Mauerwerk - Teil 3: Bestimmung der Anfangsscherfestigkeit (Haftscherfestigkeit)Méthodes d'essai de la maçonnerie - Partie 3: Détermination de la résistance initiale au cisaillementMethods of test for masonry - Part 3: Determination of initial shear strength91.080.30Zidane konstrukcijeMasonryICS:Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z:EN 1052-3:2002SIST EN 1052-3:2004en01-januar-2004SIST EN 1052-3:2004SLOVENSKI
STANDARD
EUROPEAN STANDARDNORME EUROPÉENNEEUROPÄISCHE NORMEN 1052-3July 2002ICS 91.080.30English versionMethods of test for masonry - Part 3: Determination of initialshear strengthMéthodes d'essai de la maçonnerie - Partie 3:Détermination de la résistance initiale au cisaillementPrüfverfahren für Mauerwerk - Teil 3: Bestimmung derAnfangsscherfestigkeit (Haftscherfestigkeit)This European Standard was approved by CEN on 11 April 2002.CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this EuropeanStandard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such nationalstandards may be obtained on application to the Management Centre or to any CEN member.This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translationunder the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the Management Centre has the same status as the officialversions.CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATIONCOMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATIONEUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNGManagement Centre: rue de Stassart, 36
B-1050 Brussels© 2002 CENAll rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reservedworldwide for CEN national Members.Ref. No. EN 1052-3:2002 ESIST EN 1052-3:2004

(informative)
Types of failure.13Bibliography.14SIST EN 1052-3:2004

Measure the moisture content bymass of autoclaved aerated concrete and calcium silicate units in accordance with EN 772-10.
Record theage of non-autoclaved concrete units at the time of testing the masonry spe
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