Andrea C. Isfeld¹, Anna L. Müller², Mark Hagel³, and Nigel G. Shrive¹
1)  Department of Civil Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary
2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Canada
e-mail: {acisfeld, ngshrive}@ucalgary.ca
2)  Department of Civil Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary
2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Canada
e-mail: anna_l_mueller@gmx.de
3 Alberta Masonry Council
P.O. Box 44023, PRO Garside, Edmonton, Canada
e-mail: markhagel@albertamasonrycouncil.ca

Keywords: Concrete masonry walls, load eccentricity, out of plane loading, slenderness, creep.

Abstract. The current Canadian masonry design standard, CSA S304-14 [1], appears to underestimate the capacity of loadbearing masonry walls. The standard is increasingly conservative for walls with a slenderness ratio over 30 to which significant limitations are applied. To understand the structural response of concrete block walls under eccentric axial and out of plane loads better, testing was completed on walls with height to thickness ratio of 12.6. The displaced profiles were compared under pinned – pinned and pinned – fixed boundary conditions. Results from the testing of these walls and the constituent materials were used to calibrate finite element models. Models were developed using the simplified micro-modelling approach, modelling units, mortar, and grout as merged parts, and with rebar embedded in the grouted cells.