1 PhD Student, School of Natural and Built Environments, University of South Australia, Australia, reza.hassanli@unisa.edu.au
2 Associate Professor, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO 65401, elgawadym@mst.edu
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the accuracy of standards in predicting the in-plane shear strength of partially grouted reinforced masonry (PGM) walls based on available experimental results. The shear equations selected herein are code’s provisions from United States (MSJC 2011), New Zealand (NZS4230 2004), Canada (S304.1-04) and Australia (AS3700-2011). The experimental results were selected from a large data base including more than one-hundred specimens and only walls that displayed shear failure were selected for the comparisons. The ability of selected equations in predicting shear strength is compared with test results. Moreover, the weight of different parameters contributing to the shear strength, including: masonry compressive strength, level of axial compressive stress, wall aspect ratio, amount and spacing of vertical and horizontal reinforcement are investigated and compared with test results in detail. This study illustrates poor correlation between code predictions and test results. As a general result, the current standards are unable to predict the shear strength of PGM walls effectively. Interestingly, for some test specimens the codes prediction reaches up to even three times of the real value for shear strength. Consequently, based on the results presented herein, a new design equation or a modification of current provisions is required for PGM walls.
KEYWORDS: partially grouted masonry, in-plane, shear strength, masonry standards
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