REINFORCED MASONRY SHEAR WALLS: CYCLIC LOAD TESTS IN CONTRAFLEXURE.

Abstract

Nine 2. 4 m high by 1. 6 m long reinforced masonry walls (140 mm) were cycled under reverse curvature loading. The walls were designed to investigate the effect of vertical preload and the effectiveness of repair by epoxy grout injection together with certain matters raised by the Draft Code for Design of Reinforced Masonry, in particular effect of extent of grouting of cells, and size and distribution of reinforcement. The novel loading system highlighted the undesirable effect of grout settlement and of relying on fewer but larger diameter reinforcing bars in masonry design. The difficulty of separating the shear resisting functions of horizontal and vertical reinforcement was also apparent.