Mortar in civil engineering is a binding material that holds various building components together. Learn its functions, types, advantages and applications here. Cement mortar becomes hard when it cures, resulting in a rigid aggregate structure; however, the mortar functions as a weaker component than the building blocks and serves as the sacrificial element in the masonry, because mortar is easier and less expensive to repair than the building blocks. Mortar is applied to the bed and head joint surfaces of masonry units to both tie them together and hold them apart. Mortar increases the shear strength of the assemblage by evenly distributing gravity loads from one element to the next. Mortar also reduces the assemblage’s moisture permeability. Traditional mortar is made up of clay, lime, and sand, with the cementitious materials to sand ratio usually about 1:3. A proprietary substance is known as “masonry cement” is used in some ...
