Author

JORGE I. CRUZ-DIAZ*, ALAIN SELLIER*, BRUNO CAPRA*, PATRICK DELMOTTE**
PHILIPPE RIVILLON**, AHMED MEBARKI*
*Laboratoire de Genie Civil et Urbanisme, Universite de Marne-la-Vallee 2, Rue Albert Einstein, Cite Descartes, 77420 Champs-sur-Marne
** Centre Scientifique et Technique du Bailment 84, avenue Jean Jaures (BP 02), 77421 Marne-la-Vallee

Abstract

A wide experimental research program concerning the racking strength of hollow block masonry infilled frames is presented in this paper. The results reported herein concern the case of walls made with clay masonry blocks and different kinds of vertical joints. These walls are subjected to an horizontal alternate cyclic load acting in the wall plane. The experimental results show the influence of both the blocks’ slenderness and the blocks’ orthotropy. A simplified model is then developed. It expresses the theoretical bearing capacity of the infill based on the compression strut strength. It is based on the mechanical properties of the blocks and joints as well as the wall dimensions. KEY WORDS: masonry, wind braced walls, empty vertical joint, cyclic load, simplified model.