The paper presents the results of 20 shear tests on full scale thermal insulating clay unit masonry walls. The types of units used (units with large chambers filled with mineral wool pads and units with small corings filled with mineral wool granulate) as well as the tested wall geometries and vertical loads are representative of the most common wall constructions currently used in housing in Germany.
The aim of the investigations was the verification of the shear resistance of thermal insulating clay unit masonry under realistic conditions and comparison with the design rules in the codes and national technical approvals.
The current design rules for clay unit masonry in DIN EN 1996-1-1/NA are rather conservative compared to the test results for thermal insulating units.