A. Eslami - Graduate Student, Department of Civil Engineering, Yazd University, Iran
S.S. Mahini - Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran
R. Morshed - Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran

Mechanical properties of masonry as a composite are strongly dependent upon the properties of its constituents. A comprehensive research study on the seismic behaviour of a masonry vault belongs to a historical building located in Yazd city has been carried out at the Yazd University, Iran. In this paper, the mechanical properties of brick vaults and adobe piers which are estimated by testing are reported. These results are employed for numerical investigation. The mechanical properties of units and mortars are also determined for comparing with the prism properties.

units, mortar, prism, compressive strength, tensile strength