SEISMIC EVALUATION AND RULES IN DESIGN OF MASONRY

STRUCTURES
N. Bogdanov 1

Keywords: masonry structures, seismic

Scientific field: building structures

SUMMARY
Historically buildings with masonry load-bearing elements have been built without taking
into particular account the load capacity of the individual elements or structure as a whole.
The preliminary analysis in structural design is crucial especially for buildings subjected to
seismic forces. Clarification the failure mechanisms of bearing masonry structures is of
paramount importance to their correct seismic design. The present research deals with main
rules for design, composition and analysis of masonry structures subjected to seismic action.
simplified method for determining the index density (d) of framed masonry walls is
reviewed.

1. Confined brick masonry and demolition mechanisms

1.1 General terms
It is important to distinguish between reinforced concrete frame structures with filled
masonry and confined masonry walls. (Fig. 1 Comparison between reinforced concrete
frame structure with filled masonry and confined masonry) The main differences can be
classified as follows:
- Due to their small sizes and high cost, confined masonry columns cannot provide
frame effect. The beam-column connections are of the joint type;
- The confinement of the brick wall is done after finishing the masonry itself;
- The gravitational loads of confined masonry structures are absorbed by the
masonry itself while the masonry of frame structures absorbs mainly its own
weight and the wind influence (for frames along the outer periphery of buildings);
- When horizontal effects are present, confined masonry functions similar to a
reinforced concrete wall, while the masonry structures functions along the
compression diagonals;

1
Nikolay Bogdanov, Dr. Eng., Department: Reinforced Concrete Structures, UACEG,
1 Hristo Smirnenski Blvd, e-mail:niboengineering@gmail.com
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 Fig. 1 Comparison between reinforced concrete frame structure with filler
masonry and confined masonry

1.2 Demolition mechanisms

It can be seen on Fig. 2 Crack mechanism of confined masonry that the bearing
capacity of the elements decreases with the formation of a diagonal crack through the wall
(section 1). The wall can still provide residual bearing capacity. The remaining bearing
capacity is a result of the end critical zones of the confined columns (section 2). This shows
that considerable horizontal deformations and ductility can be reached before complete
demolition takes place. The demolition of confined masonry walls is a result of dominant
shearing, not bending.

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 Fig. 2 Crack mechanism of confined masonry

The distribution of the stress along the separate elements that absorb the seismic effect
depends on the type of floor structures (flexible or rigid diaphragms) Fig. 3
Distribution of the horizontal force in buildings with flexible and rigid diaphragms.

Fig. 3 Distribution of the horizontal force in buildings with

a) flexible and b) rigid diaphragms

The demolition mechanism is different than the demolition of frame structures with a flexible
first floor. In this case, the stiffness is equally high. Nevertheless, the demolition takes place
in the first floor due to the strong seismic forces that cause large cracks and a sudden drop in
the stiffness of the walls. Fig. 4 shows the demolition mechanism of a confined masonry wall
that absorbs the seismic effect.

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 Fig. 4 Demolition mechanism of buildings with confined masonry walls

Fig. 5 Demolition of buildings with confined masonry walls during the earthquake in
Peru in 2008

2. Main standards and rules when designing buildings with

supporting masonry walls in seismic regions
EN 1998-1 allows the absorption of seismic stress from masonry walls only if they are
confined with reinforced concrete columns or if they are armed. Non-armed or non-
confined masonry is not allowed for walls and masonry structures of buildings that
absorb seismic effects.

The behavior factor q shall have the value 2 in confined masonry walls and 2,5 in armed
masonry. At irregularity in height, the values of q shall be decreased by 20% but q cannot be
less than 1,5.
EC8-1 allows the usage of elastic stiffness of masonry walls when calculating the structure
for elastic analysis; also, it recommends that the influence of the cracks over the
deformations be taken into account through decrease in the stiffness of bending and shearing,
but the exact calculation method is not specified.
The thickness of the masonry walls has a minimum size of tef = 25 cm, and the ratio of the
effective height of the wall hef to the thickness has a maximum value of 15. Also, the ratio of the
wall length to its largest clear height should be no less than 0,3.
When designing buildings with supporting masonry walls in seismic regions, it should be taken
into account that:
- the building has to be regular in plan;

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- long buildings should be avoided as the longer size should not exceed the shorter
one by more than 4 times;

- the supporting walls should be designed in a way that maximum symmetry is

achieved with the purpose of decreasing the effects of twisting;

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 - the openings for doors and walls should be positioned one above the other on each
floor;

- the connections of the walls with the confined elements (columns) should be done
by one of the following elements;

- horizontal connections should be planned in order to guarantee the stability of the

walls outside their plane;

3. Method for determining the density index (d) of confined

masonry walls that absorb seismic effects.
It is accepted that a specific building is secured for designed seismic effect if the shearing
capacity of each individual floor is bigger than the shear strength of that effect. This relation
can be written down as:

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 V Rd
Fs 1 (1)
VEd
where:
V Rd is the shearing bearing capacity of all supporting elements of each floor in a given
direction;
VEd is the shearing strength in each floor in a given direction;
Fs 1 - safety coefficient;
The shearing strength Ved depends on the characteristics of the building and the
characteristics of the terrain. It can be determined by multiplying the overall weight of the
building Wtot by the seismic coefficient C.
ao .Sd (T1 ).S
Ved C.Wtot (2) Wtot Ap .n.w (3) C (4)
R
where:
Ap is the area of the floor slab;
n is the number of floors;
w - the weight of the floor in m2 including the vertical elements;
ao I .agR (5)
I is the importance factor;
agR is the referential maximum ground acceleration for a period of repeatability of 475
years. Depending on the value of a gR and the type of construction, the admissible number of
floors above ground level n is limited and a minimum of 2 walls are provided in two
orthogonal directions.
S d (T1 ) is a calculated response spectrum for the first period of the structure;
S is a coefficient that depends on the type of soil;
R is a reduction coefficient that represents the ductility and the increased bearing capacity
under seismic effects. It is determined from tables. R=4 is for walls with solid bricks, and
R=3 for walls with hollowed bricks.

The shearing bearing capacity for each separate floor in a given direction for confined
masonry is determined by the expression:
V Rd .A w VRd ,m VRd ,c . Aw (6)
where
VRd ,m f vd .d .l is the calculated shear capacity of the brick wall;
f vk min f vk 0 0, 4 d ; 0, 065 f b (7)
d is the calculated compression strain perpendicular to the shearing of an element in the given
story;
f vk 0 is the initial shearing strength;
fb is the normalized compression strength of the masonry blocks in the direction of applying the
weight on the samples, perpendicular to the surface of laying up the blocks;
f vk
f vd is the calculated shearing bearing capacity of the brick wall;
M

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According to section NA2.50 of the National anex, the private coefficients of the materials at
seismic calculated combination are accepted with the following values: =2/3 from the set
value in the National anex under BDS EN 1996-1-1 but no less than 1,5, s =1 and b =1.
VRd ,c min k1. cp b.d (8) is the shear capacity of the confined reinforced concrete
columns neglecting the steel in the section;
200
min 0, 035k 3/2 . fck 1/2 (9) k 1 (10)
d
N Ed
cp 0, 2 f cd (11) k1 0,15
bc .hc
Aw is the general effective area of the walls that absorb the seismic effect. Walls with
openings are registered in case they are confined by reinforced concrete columns and the
opening area does not exceed 10% of the wall area. By replacing this in formula (1), the
relation can be written as:
V Rd

. Aw
Fs 1 (11)
VEd C. Ap .n.w
Aw
The density index of the walls is determined as follows : d
Ap
C.n.w
d Fs 1 Therefore d Fs (12)
C.n.w
The minimum general area of the cross section of the walls Amin in each direction is given in
BDS EN 1998-1-3, and that area is expressed as minimum percentage P A,min , that is d [%].
The minimum number of floors and the minimum area of the plates are given in the table
NA9.3 of the National anex.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

1. Barakova N, Barakov T, Masonry structures Eurocode 6, University of Architecture,

Civil Engineering and Geodesy, 2014
2. BDS EN 1990: Eurocode Principles of design of building structures, 2003
3. BDS EN 1991/N
4. BDS EN 1992-1-1/NA
5. BDS EN 1998
6. Hendry, A., Sinha, B., Davies, S. Design of masonry structures, Third edition
7. Seismic design guide for low-rise confined masonry buildings, 2011