Response of Unreinforced Brick Masonry Wall Structures to Lateral Loads

Abstract

This chapter describes and discusses a research project carried out to enhance the understanding of lateral load response of unreinforced masonry walls. Masonry continues to be a popular material for low-rise construction despite the poor performance of masonry structures during recent earthquakes. Masonry wall structures have been used for centuries and are generally considered to be strong under gravity loads to which they are subjected. The strength of masonry structures is mainly influenced by the quality of bricks, mortar, and their interaction, and hence its compressive strength. In regions of moderate to high seismic activity, it has been found that damage of masonry structures have been caused by the lateral loads due to the earthquake motion. Research on lateral load response of masonry in general, and seismic response of masonry in particular, have been limited. A series of laboratory tests are conducted to evaluate the structural behavior, load versus displacement characteristics, stress–strain relationship, and failure criterion of panels of locally manufactured solid clay brick walls subjected to monotonic lateral loads. The effect of vertical compressive load, which has been identified as an important parameter on the response, is evaluated.