In-Plane Seismic Resistance of Two-Story Concrete Masonry Walls with Openings

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Masonry construction comprises a large portion of building construction in the U.S. and the world. Reinforced masonry construction use is increasing in moderate to higher seismic zones because of its apparent features of economy, fire safety, architectural flexibility and ease of construction. The present state of masonry structural analysis and design and materials construction technologies does not enable an accurate prediction of building behavior under lateral loads such as seismic loads. In the U.S., masonry buildings are designed and built with methods, codes and standards that rely upon a mixture of working stress methods, empirical rules, and questionable methods for determining allowable stress values. Masonry is also a complex building material because of the large number of design and construction variable which influence the final product configuration and its response under seismic loads. In order to describe the seismic response of masonry buildings it is necessary to develop the fundamental knowledge base to determine basic design methodologies consistent with safety and economic requirements. This research will investigate the in-plane seismic resistance of two- story concrete masonry walls with openings. The research project forms a transition between in-plane investigations on single-story panels and investigations on three-story walls and on a five-story structure. The investigation will consider the effect of floor-wall joints, the effect of wall openings, and the effect of floor elements. The project is primarily experimental where the specimens will be constructed in the laboratory and tested under combinations of vertical and in-plane lateral loads. The results will be used as input to establish material limit state design methodologies to resist seismic loadings. The principal investigator is highly qualified to conduct this research project and institution provides excellent facilities. An award is recommended for the first year of this two-year research project. This research project will be coordinated with the U.S.-Japan Coordinated Program for Masonry Building Research and the Technical Coordinated Committee for Masonry Research Program (TCCMAR).