Author

R. POPESCU (1), G. POPESCU (2)

(1) Research & Design Diplomat Eng. Ist Degree, Checking Eng. in Structural Design: A1, A3, E

(2) Research & Design Diplomat Eng. Ist Degree, Technical Expert A, Checking Eng. in Structural Design: A1, A3

IPCT Structuri Ltd, Bucharest, Romania, ipctstructuri@yahoo.com; www.ipctstructuri.tm.ro

Abstract

Masonry is a material which behaves in a brittle manner under the action of high earthquake forces but many masonry houses have been built in areas with high seismic risk. Masonry can offer good thermal insulation resulting in healthy and pleasant internal environments to houses at low cost. Romania is a country with high seismic risk areas but nevertheless masonry structures can be constructed provided that the resistance capacities of the walls subjected to in-plane seismic loading and eccentric compression are designed correctly. If not, then obviously the design inequality, within the seismic Code (VRd >VEd) never will be achieved. As a result of laboratory tests and observations of the behaviour of masonry buildings under seismic effects, one may conclude that the main failure criterion of unreinforced masonry walls built using clay or Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) units) is as a result of diagonal cracking due to tensile stresses. In this paper the authors will present a calculation method developed based on the above observations.