Author
D C SCHERMER
Institute for Concrete and Masonry Structures, Technical University Munich, Germany

Abstract
Masonry, in general, cannot be regarded as a continuum material since it is composed of discrete units and mortar having different material characteristics. For load states in masonry walls with dominant lateral loadings, the distribution of stresses significantly differs from an isotropic approach. Thus, experimental methods for the determination of shear load capacity and deformation behaviour are essential to receive proper and realistic results.
The aim of the project – a part of the whole ESECMaSE-research-project – was the development of a shear test method on full-scale walls describing the boundary conditions in common masonry structures close to reality. Based on a literature research and numerical investigations a new test method was developed, where the relevant loads normal force, horizontal force and cap moment are applied independently at the cap of the wall. For a constant stress distribution at the cap and to avoid stress peaks, a stiff beam has to be placed. On the both sides of the walls no loads are applied at all.
To cover in-plane bending restraint of the walls in the floor slabs, the cap rotation is prevented by a restraining bending moment at the cap. It was proposed to couple this with the horizontal force to result in a zero moment at mid height of the wall.