PARTENE, EVA1; STOIAN, VALERIU2; MOSOARCA, MARIUS3; FEKETE-NAGY, LUMINITA4

1) PhD Student, “Politehnica” University Timisoara, Department of Civil Engineering, eva.partene@ct.upt.ro

2) Professor, S.C. H.I. Struct S.R.L. & Politehnica University Timisoara, Department of Civil Engineering, valeriu.stoian@ct.upt.ro

3) Assoc. Professor, S.C. H.I. Struct S.R.L. & Politehnica University Timisoara, Department of Civil Engineering, mmosoarca@histruct.ro

4) Lecturer, Politehnica University Timisoara, Department of Civil Engineering, luminita.fekete@ct.upt.ro

The experimental research aims to provide valuable information regarding the behaviour and shear capacity of masonry walls, subjected to in-plane horizontal loads. Three masonry walls were subjected to cyclic loading in order to observe the response of this type of structural walls. The experimental specimens are built-up using ceramic blocks with hollows, which represents a very common system for low-rise buildings (up to 4 stories, depending on the seismic acceleration of the site). The elements are tested unplastered. The main objective of the testing was to evaluate the shear capacity for the elements and to make a comparison between unreinforced masonry walls and reinforced masonry walls. The experimental research is also helpful for evaluation of material strengths which will be used for a numerical analysis.

Keywords: masonry walls, in plane cyclic loads, hollow ceramic blocks