Title: The response of concrete masonry with widely-spaced reinforcement to in-plane shear: state-of-the-art and research needs

Authors: N.G. Shrive; M. Dhanasekar; M.J. Masia; A.W. Page

Addresses: Department of Civil Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada ' Department of Civil Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, GPO Box 2434, Queensland 4001, Australia ' Centre for Infrastructure Performance and Reliability, School of Engineering, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, New South Wales 2308, Australia ' School of Engineering, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales 2308, Australia

Abstract: Wide-spaced partially grouted reinforced masonry has vertical reinforcement placed at intervals of more than 800 mm. This type of masonry can fail in additional modes compared to plain unreinforced masonry (URM) and reinforced masonry where the vertical reinforcement is placed at spacings of 800 mm or less when subject to in-plane shear. We review what is known about the in-plane shear failure of concrete block masonry and the factors that affect the mode of failure. We explain the additional failure mode that wide-spaced reinforcement introduces and review what little is known about that failure and how to predict it. Current codes of practice severely overestimate the in-plane shear strength of this type of masonry. We show that some progress has been made in gaining an understanding of the behaviour of wide-spaced reinforced masonry and assess that the effects of axial stress, panel and wall aspect ratio, panel-to-frame stiffness and openings need to be examined in more detail in order for design rules to be developed.

Keywords: concrete masonry; wide spaced reinforcement; failure mode; strength.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMRI.2018.095702

International Journal of Masonry Research and Innovation, 2018 Vol.3 No.4, pp.369 - 381

Received: 13 May 2017
Accepted: 04 Jan 2018
Published online: 17 Oct 2018 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article