Joseph G. Eixenberger¹, and Fernando S. Fonseca²
1)  WDP & Associates
10621 Gateway Blvd., Suite 200 Manassas, VA 20110 USA
e-mail: jeixenberger@wdpa.com
2)   Brigham Young University
368R Clyde Building Provo, UT 84604 USA
email: fonseca@byu.edu

Keywords: Dry-stack, Masonry, Finite Element Model, In-Plane Shear Capacity.

Abstract. Dry-stack masonry systems are constructed without mortar between the blocks. This reduces the cost of specialty laborers and the variability in construction that exists from the application of mortar. Several dry-stack systems exist and can be subcategorized as interlocking systems or surface bonded systems. In interlocking systems, the blocks are connected by their geometry while in surface bonded systems the blocks are connected by a structural coating applied to the surface of the wall. This article describes a finite element model that can be used to predict the in-plane capacity and behavior of dry-stack masonry walls with a surface coating. Four walls were built and tested for their in-plane shear capacity. Two walls were unreinforced and ungrouted and two walls were reinforced and grouted at 1.22 m both vertically and horizontally. The results of these tests were used to validate the finite element model. The finite element model was developed using VecTor2. The numerical response is in good agreement to measured response. For the ungrouted unreinforced walls, the calculated maximum load was within 4% and 14% of the measured maximum loads. For the reinforced and grouted walls, the calculated maximum load was within 8% and 1% of the measured maximum loads.