Fortes, Ernesto S.1; Parsekian, Guilherme A. 2; Fonseca, Fernando S. 3 and Shrive, Nigel G.4
1 PhD, Department of Civil Engineering, Federal University of Sao Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luis, km 235-SP- 310 São Carlos – São Paulo – Brazil, ernestofortes@hotmail.com 2
2 Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Federal University of Sao Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luis, km 235-SP-310 São Carlos – São Paulo – Brazil, parsekian@ufscar.br
3 Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT,
84602, USA, fonseca@byu.edu 4
4 Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary,Alberta, Canada T2N, ngshrive@ucalgary.ca
ABSTRACT
Openings in a wall alter its behaviour and add complexity to its analysis and design. The stiffness and load capacity of the wall can change significantly when the elements around an opening are taken into account. There has been some research conducted to determine the effects of openings on masonry shear walls, but most tests have been conducted on single-storey walls.The preliminary results from the testing of six half-scale, three-storey, concrete masonry walls with doors and windows are presented. The objective was to investigate the influence of openings in partially grouted and reinforced concrete masonry walls under cyclic loading. Tests were conducted on six walls—three with door openings and three with window openings. The walls experienced gradual strength degradation and failed in shear. The observed behaviour was attributed to the presence of a bond beam on the top of the walls, which apparently caused a frame-type action in the later stages of their testing. The typical bed joint and diagonal cracks indicated that the wall behaviour was controlled by shear.
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