Compressive Strength Of Reinforced Masonry under Lateral Tension

Abstract

Shear walls are subjected to biaxial in-plane stresses when resisting seismic or wind loadings. Vertical tensile cracking reduces the compressive strength of walls in a direction normal to the tensile strain. This has been widely studied and accepted for reinforced concrete. However, for reinforced masonry there are no data available to predict the reduced compressive strength and behavior for walls with lateral tensile strains. To provide data for masonry, a biaxial test frame was constructed capable of loading masonry panels 80 cm (32 in.) high by 120 cm (48 in.) wide in combined compression and tension. Reinforced masonry panels subjected to various levels of lateral tensile strain were loaded to vertical compressive failure. Results from a test series of wall panels tested under various levels of lateral tension and vertical compression were used to establish a model to predict the reduction in compressive strength due to the lateral strain field.