https://doi.org/10.4322/2025360155502
M.A. HOSSAIN(1) and M.J. MASIA(2)
(1) Research Associate, School of Engineering, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, 2308 and Australia Akhtar.a.Hossain@newcastle.edu.au
(2) Professor, School of Engineering, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, 2308 and Australia
Mark.Masia@page

ABSTRACT
In recent years, Australian architects have increasingly adopted hit-and-miss masonry in building facade systems and feature walls, although this design technique has been present in Australia for many decades. The Australian Standard AS 3700: Masonry Structures includes provisions for the design of masonry in one-way vertical bending, which can be applied to hit-and-miss masonry using a section modulus derived from the net bedded area. However, horizontal and two-way bending requirements necessitate fully filled mortar joints, excluding hit-and-miss masonry from AS 3700’s scope for these conditions. Willis et al. (2006) proposed two expressions to calculate horizontal bending capacity in masonry structures, which could potentially be adapted to consider hit-and-miss masonry, but these provisions have not, to date, been included in AS 3700. As a result, structural engineers lack comprehensive international guidelines for designing this type of masonry. To investigate the horizontal bending capacity of unreinforced hit-and-miss masonry walls, researchers at The University of Newcastle tested twelve wall specimens with varying overlaps between units in adjacent courses. Findings from these experiments are reported in previous studies. This study extends previous research by developing three-dimensional (3D) deterministic non-linear finite element (FE) models to simulate hit-andmiss masonry under lateral out-of-plane horizontal bending, with findings compared to predictions from AS 3700 and Willis (2006) expressions. The numerical models created align closely with the experimental trends observed, although consistently over-predict results when compared with AS 3700 and Willis’s predictions, reflecting AS 3700’s conservative approach. Notably, these models provide a valuable tool for estimating the load capacity of different hitand- miss wall geometries, thereby offering enhanced accuracy in assessing structural performance and contributing to safer, more efficient masonry designs in Australian architecture.

KEYWORDS: hit-and-miss masonry, lattice masonry, FEM, out-of-plane loading, one-way bending, horizontal bending.