Explore the principles and methods of analyzing the structural behavior of masonry buildings, including load distribution, stress analysis, and failure mechanisms.
Structural Analysis of Masonry Buildings
Key concepts, typical procedures, and practical guidelines
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Definition | Assemblies of units (bricks, blocks, stone) bonded with mortar, often reinforced with steel or fibers. |
| Common Types | – Solid masonry (load‑bearing walls) – Cavity masonry (inner/outer leaves) – Reinforced masonry (RM) – steel bars or mesh embedded in mortar. |
| Typical Uses | Residential, commercial, industrial, heritage structures, low‑rise high‑rise, seismic retrofits. |
| Design Codes (selected) | • Eurocode 6 (EN 1996) – Masonry • ACI 530/ASCE 5 – Masonry Design • IBC Chapter 22 – Masonry • BS 5628 – Structural Use of Masonry |
| Property | Typical Range | Influencing Factors |
|---|---|---|
| Compressive strength, f′c | 5–40 MPa (brick) 10–80 MPa (concrete block) |
Unit material, mortar type, curing, density. |
| Tensile strength, ft | 0.2–1.5 MPa | Very low; governs cracking and shear. |
| Modulus of elasticity, Ec | 5–15 GPa | Unit stiffness, mortar, confinement. |
| Poisson’s ratio, ν | 0.15–0.25 | Material composition. |
| Shear strength, Vc | 0.5–1.0 √f′c (MPa) | Mortar bond, unit interlock. |
Key points
Typical wall classifications
| Wall Type | Height‑to‑Thickness Ratio (h/t) | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| Stiff (shear) wall | ≤ 10 | Core of high‑rise, seismic zones |
| Partition wall | > 10 | Interior partitions, non‑load‑bearing |
| Boundary wall | ≤ 8 | Corners, perimeters, openings support |
| Model | Applicability | Governing Equations |
|---|---|---|
| Linear Elastic Analysis | Small stresses, serviceability checks | σ = E ε, shear flow q = V / t |
| Elastic–Plastic (Limit‑State) Method | Design for ultimate loads | σ ≤ f′c/γc, V ≤ Vc· |