Author

H. R. GANZ and B. THURLIMANN
Institute of Structural Engineering
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
Zurich, Switzerland

Abstract

Current Swiss design practice for masonry shear walls is based on the comparison of stresses calculated elastically with specified allowable stresses. The obective was to develop a design method based on the ultimate limit state of shear walls. In order to determine the failure criterion of biaxially loaded masonry 12 panels were tested with various inclinations of the bed joints. A further seven tests on shear walls were then performed. The walls, restrained by reinforced concrete floor and ceiling slabs, were subjected to normal force, in-plane bending moment and shear. A failure criterion in terms of four parameters has been developed. The ultimate loads of the walls under normal force and shear have been calculated using the theory of plasticity and this criterion. Experimental and theoretical results show good agreement.