BEHAVIOR AND ANALYSIS OF RC COLUMN/MASONRY WALL REINFORCED INTERFACES

Abstract

The primary objective of this research is to investigate the influence of the interface details between RC column/masonry wall on the response to vertical and lateral loads. The specific tasks include behaviour evaluation of RC column/masonry wall different reinforced interfaces under vertical and lateral loads, development of strut and tie models and numerical models to simulate the response of the tested specimens, evaluation of untested design configurations using the developed models and finally will include proposal of a set of design guidelines based on the experimental and analytical programs results. The research program evaluates the structural behaviour of different reinforced interfaces between RC column & masonry wall tested under constant monotonically increasing lateral loads. Tested specimens are having different types of RC columns/Masonry wall interfaces, firstly straight interfaces with variable bed joint reinforcement ratios and toothed interfaces with variable bed joint reinforcement ratios and finally toothed interfaces with variable shear dowels reinforcement ratios. Test results include the evaluation of the steel strains, top lateral wall displacement, panel distribution and monitoring of crack location and width. Strut and tie simple models were developed to simulate tested specimens behavior in both linear and non linear stages. A numerical study was conducted using finite element models to simulate the behaviour of the tested specimens. The models are validated in light of the experimental results. A parametric study was conducted to simulate the response of untested design configurations and propose set of guidelines for interface design.