DESIGN OF FACE-SHELL BEDDED HOLLOW MASONRY SUBJECT TO CONCENTRATED LOADS

Many parameters affect the behaviour and failure of face-shell bedded hollow masonry subject to concentrated load. Detailed study of these p arameters is needed to develop realistic design rules for this situati on. The effects of loaded length and wall dimensions on capacity of th e face-shell bedded hollow masonry subject to concentrated load are st udied; the effect of mortar joint strength is also evaluated. The curr ent design detail of filling some of the blocks under the concentrated load with grout is reviewed. The study was performed with a nonlinear elastoplastic finite element model that takes into account geometric and material nonlinearities as well as damage due to progressive crack ing. The methodology, when combined with substructuring, allows analys is of substantially larger walls than would more typical three-dimensi onal analyses. The results indicate that the length of the loading pla te is the significant parameter for load capacity. A possible design e quation for plain hollow masonry subject to concentrated loads, concen tric across the width of the wall, is provided. Adjustments could be m ade given the precise loading detail specified. Improvement details ar e explained.