Numerical Study of Tall Masonry Cavity Walls Subjected to Eccentric Loads

Abstract

This paper presents the results of the second phase of an ongoing investigation into the behavior of tall cavity masonry walls constructed with partially grouted and reinforced concrete block wythe and a burnt brick wythe tied together with semirigid shear connectors. In the first phase, a test program has been conducted on tall cavity walls under eccentric axial forces. In this phase a nonlinear finite-element analysis model is developed to simulate the database of existing test results. The model represents all components of the cavity wall, the reinforced concrete block backup wythe, the brick wythe, and the shear connectors. It accounts for the nonlinear material behavior of all components as well as the large displacement, small strain characteristics of the deformation. The numerical analysis results are successfully compared with a number of test results. The simulation offers insight into the mode of failure, in particular for walls with high eccentricity ratios. That same model is then used to numerically generate an extensive database to examine the effect of various wall parameters on wall stiffness and ultimate strength.