Effect of Opening on the Lateral Stiffness of Masonry Walls with and without Ties

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Senior structural engineer, Isfahan, Iran.

2 Isfahan University of Technology

Abstract

In this study, lateral response of masonry walls with openings is studied. The numerical modeling and analysis is followed and the developed models are validated using available experimental results. Samples selected for validation analysis include two masonry walls confined with reinforced concrete perimeter ties and one masonry wall with no ties. Validity of the numerical models has been established against the experimental samples within Abaqus software using nonlinear static analysis. Variation in the size, location and aspect ratio of the opening are taken into account and the lateral stiffness and strength of the walls are calculated. In addition, a series of equations have been developed based on strength of materials for simple calculation of lateral stiffness, strength and ductility of masonry walls with opening. This has the important advantage of avoiding complex and time consuming 3D nonlinear finite element analysis for the same purpose. To do this task, three different cases of failure are accounted for the walls including: when presence of the opening is not effective, when behavior of the two piers besides the opening is governing, and when the overhead lintel governs the lateral behavior of wall. Each of the mentioned cases are in turn divided into other sub-cases and several nonlinear finite element analyses have been undertaken. Results of the developed analytical equations are compared and calibrated with those of the finite element analysis and desirable accuracy of the relations developed in this study is confirmed.

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