Out-of-Plane Design Procedure for Confined Masonry Walls

Abstract

This paper presents a design procedure to determine the out-of-plane strength of confined masonry walls. For this purpose, eight full-scale confined walls were tested in the laboratory. Walls were subjected to axial and uniform out-of-plane loads. The variables studied were the unit type and the aspect ratio of the walls. Based on the experimental results, it is observed that as the aspect ratio increases, the out-of-plane strength increases. For walls with the same aspect ratio and failure related to crushing of masonry, the out-of-plane strength depends on the axial compressive strength of masonry. Analytical out-of-plane strength of walls was determined using the bidirectional strut method. This method was validated using experimental results obtained from this and other studies. Failure of wall panel and local failure of concrete confining elements were both included in the design procedure.