Influence of vertical tie columns on bearing capacity of masonry walls

Abstract

Numerical test results, defining influence of vertical tie columns on the performance of masonry walls subjected to static and dynamic load, are presented in the paper. The analysis focuses on two-storey walls without openings and with openings, with good and poor quality masonry, and with different boundary conditions at the contact between wall foundations and the subsoil. The influence of the profile of longitudinal bars of vertical tie beams on the performance of walls under horizontal static load, and harmonic and seismic acceleration of subsoil, is studied. The numerical model for static and dynamic analysis of in-plane masonry structures, previously developed by the authors, is used in the analysis.