Experimental Study on Out-of-Plane Seismic Performance of New Type Masonry System

Abstract

The authors developed two types of block systems, consisting only of main and key blocks, without joint mortar, to improve the in- and out-of-plane seismic performances and enhance the workability. Two types of block systems have different key block shapes. One is the peanuts shape, and the other is the H shape. The proposed block systems have a half-height difference between the main and key blocks, to significantly improve seismic performance in in- and out-of-plane directions, compared to typical masonry wall with joint mortar. In this study, in order to evaluate the out-of-plane seismic performance of the proposed block systems, two types of block walls are experimentally investigated, including the typical block wall. Firstly, the shaking table tests are carried out to investigate the fundamental out-of-plane behaviors of three specimens. Next, four-point bending tests are planned to evaluate the out-of-plane seismic performance, since all specimens do not occur the out-of-plane collapse in the shaking table tests from the preliminary calculation. In this paper, the development of predominant period, profiles of acceleration and displacement, and maximum tensile strength of each specimen are discussed in detail. As a result, the maximum loads of the proposed block walls were about three to four times that of the typical block wall. This result means that the proposed block system has significantly improved seismic performance in the out-of-plane direction.