In-Plane Behavior of Reinforced Masonry Walls: Experimentally Based Modelling

In the framework of a recent EU funded research project, innovative construction systems for clay unit reinforced masonry walls were developed. In particular, one system was developed for low-rise residential buildings. An extensive experimental program was mainly aimed to understand the cyclic in-plane behavior under shear and compression loads. The tests results were compared with code proposed formulations for the evaluation of shear strength, in order to check their reliability in predicting the ultimate load capacity of reinforced masonry walls. A new calibrated formulation is proposed. A FE continuum micromodel was calibrated on the experimental results and then used to carry out parametric analyses of the reinforced masonry system, to investigate the influence of the axial load level, the aspect ratio and the reinforcement ratio on the global in-plane behavior of the tested walls. A new analytical hysteretic model was also developed and used to carry out non-linear dynamic analyses of SDOF systems, to evaluate the reduction of the elastic response of reinforced walls, for a range of natural periods that characterize the elastic phase of load bearing masonry buildings.