  The purpose of this paper is to propose an inexpensive micromechanics-based
scheme for stiffness homogenization and strength estimation of mortars
containing crushed bricks, known as cocciopesto. The model utilizes the
Mori-Tanaka method to determine the effective stiffness, combined with
estimates of quadratic invariants of the deviatoric stresses inside phases to
predict the compressive strength. Special attention is paid to the
representation of C-S-H gel layer around bricks and interfacial transition zone
around sand aggregates, which renders the predictions sensitive to particle
sizes. Several parametric studies are performed to demonstrate that the method
correctly reproduces data and trends reported in available literature.
Moreover, the model is based exclusively on parameters with clear physical or
geometrical meaning and as such it provides a convenient framework for its
further experimental validation.
