Rat-trap masonry: state-of-the-art review

Sami ullah; Mohammad Ashraf; Muhammad Fahim; Eid Badshah

doi:10.22581/muet1982.2202.02

Sami ullah Department of Civil Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar, Pakistan
Mohammad Ashraf Department of Civil Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar, Pakistan
Muhammad Fahim Department of Civil Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar, Pakistan
Eid Badshah Department of Civil Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar, Pakistan

DOI: https://doi.org/10.22581/muet1982.2202.02

Abstract

Adequate Shelter is one of the basic needs of all humans. To provide this basic need, building industry throughout the world, specifically in the underdeveloped countries, are moving towards cost effective and energy efficient construction techniques. Rat-Trap Bond (RTB) is one such technique where bricks are laid on their edges vertically with three inches cavity between them. This arrangement has many advantages like cost reduction of up to 30 %, better thermal insulation, dead load reduction, and better aesthetic look. The bond is successfully adopted over the last three decades in Pakistan, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka for the construction of one and two storey buildings. Several experimental and numerical studies have been conducted over the last two decades to study the cost effectiveness, energy efficiency, thermal insulation, compressive strength, and in-plane and out of plane behaviour, seismic behaviour, and failure modes. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the existing research work carried out on rat-trap masonry.