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Masonry Industry Promotion Group
In the News Masonry Shear Wall Research at WSU Experimental research is currently underway at Washington State University (WSU) to investigate the behavior of concrete masonry shear walls with varying amounts of flexural (vertical) reinforcement and different wall aspect ratios (height:length). The International Building Code (IBC) currently specifies maximum limits for flexural reinforcement in masonry shear walls that may unnecessarily restrict masonry construction in zones of high seismic and wind loads. Substantial discussion has taken place recently within the masonry design community regarding the validity of the IBC maximum reinforcement limits. An assumption underpinning the IBC maximum reinforcement limits is that rapid strength degradation due to toe-crushing occurs immediately after the peak load on a shear wall is reached. However, a recently completed analytical study of shear wall behavior at WSU indicates that reinforced masonry shear walls can exhibit significant ductility even after the onset of toe-crushing. Experimental evidence is needed to confirm these analytical studies. The experimental research at WSU is intended to investigate whether masonry shear walls reinforced above the maximum limits currently specified in the IBC can provide adequate ductility when subjected to cyclic in-plane lateral loads (which are intended to simulate extreme effects of earthquake or wind loading). Seven reinforced concrete masonry shear walls will be tested at WSU in this current phase of research. In-plane cyclic loads will be applied to each shear wall, and the performance of the walls will be monitored with transducers to measure wall displacements at various locations, strain gages to measure elongation of steel reinforcement within the walls, and a time-synchronized digital camera to visually capture wall behavior throughout the loading history. This data will provide information regarding reinforced masonry shear walls behavior, modes of failure, overall system ductility, and post peak-load strength degradation. The results of this research will be provided to the Masonry Standards Joint Committee (MSJC) for development of appropriate design guidelines for concrete masonry shear walls in national building codes and standards. This research on behavior of concrete masonry shear walls is being conducted by Ian Eikanas, a civil engineering graduate student at WSU, under the direction of Professors David Pollock and David McLean. Ian is originally from Goldendale, Washington and completed his B.S. degree in civil engineering at WSU in May, 2002. Financial support for this research has been provided by the Bob Fraser Masonry Graduate Fellowship, the Masonry Industry Promotion Group, and the Eastern Washington Masonry Producers Association.
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© 2003 - 2006 Janet Crosby all rights reserved
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being constructed by masons from Dempsey Masonry dba Johnson Masonry.