Dry Stone Masonry Walls in Bending—Part II: Analysis

Abstract

With the objective of developing analytical models for evaluation of the lateral strength of dry-stack masonry (DSM) walls subject to horizontal inertial loading, simple collapse mechanisms are proposed, which include a combination of out-of-plane flexural deformation along the main panel and in-plane shear deformation in the connecting return walls. The lateral strength is calculated using a virtual work approach incorporating moment capacities along different types of crack lines and shear resistance of in-plane panels participating in the mechanisms. The proposed treatment of the active in-plane panels assumes that they undergo frictional shear deformation (versus rigid body rocking), in consistency with the zero tensile strength nature of DSM. Allowance is also made for the presence of either restrained or unrestrained overburden loads at the top of the wall, which can generate either a strengthening or weakening effect, respectively. The accuracy of the analysis is assessed by comparing its predictions to the results of experimental tests on DSM reported in the companion study. These comparisons are favorable with respect to both the predicted values of strength and the critical failure mechanisms.