Md Akhtar Hossain¹, Yuri Z. Totoev², and Mark J. Masia³
1 PhD Student, Centre for Infrastructure Performance and Reliability, The University of Newcastle,
Newcastle, Australia, Email: Md.Akhtar.Hossain@uon.edu.au
2 Senior Lecturer, Centre for Infrastructure Performance and Reliability, The University of Newcastle,
Australia, Email: Yuri.Totoev@newcastle.edu.au,
3 Associate Professor, Centre for Infrastructure Performance and Reliability, The University of Newcastle,
Australia, Email: Mark.Masia@newcastle.edu.au

Keywords: Semi-interlocking masonry, Sliding joints, In-plane cyclic testing, Energy dissipation, DIC.

 Abstract. Mortar-less Semi-Interlocking Masonry (SIM) has been designed in the Centre for Infrastructure Performance and Reliability at The University of Newcastle for seismically vulnerable regions as an alternative to traditional masonry panels. This innovative masonry building system consists of mortar-less masonry panels with multiple sliding bed joints made of semi-interlocking units capable of relative sliding in-plane of a panel but interlocked against relative out-of-plane movement. These new panels are suitable for both infill and confined masonry. The major objective of developing this new masonry system is to improve the earthquake performance of the framed structure by increasing the displacement ductility and the energy dissipation capacity of infill panels. An experimental program is developed to evaluate displacement ductility of the infill panels under large displacement. It consists of a special steel testing frame with pin connections, which allows the panels distortion up to 6% of storey height. Digital Image Correlation (DIC) technique is used to monitor the displacement and crack behaviour of the panel. This paper reports the results of this testing program with mechanically interlocking units in terms of force-displacement relationship as well as energy dissipation capacity of the system.