Analytical Investigation of Reinforced Masonry Shear Wall Structures Exposed to Dynamic Load

Abstract

Reinforced concrete masonry (RCM) shear walls are considered as an effective lateral load resisting system (LLRS), many analytical and experimental studies were conducted to survey the behavior of RCM shear walls against lateral loading to help designers to predict their response under the effect of severe ground motions. Analysis of structures using time history method is considered one of the methods used for simulating the response of structures subjected to seismic loading in order to predict the behavior of these structures. In international codes, the value of reduction factor was obtained by testing many types of walls under cyclic and dynamic loading. Actually, codes don’t provide the configuration of tested walls, so in this research will make an investigation on different wall configurations and buildings exposed to dynamic loading.

This study was performed to have further insight on the behavior of RCM individual shear walls and midrise buildings composed of these walls as their main gravity and lateral load resisting system. A review of previous literature was undertaken to have clear ideas of the previous findings related to the point of study. After a review of literature this research was divided into two phases: