Abstract:
In-plane failure modes are commonly observed in clay brick unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings following strong earthquake-induced ground shaking. To address such potentially weak failure types and to reduce the risk of severe earthquake-induced damage, an experimental in-plane testing programme was undertaken to determine the response behaviour of as-built and retrofitted URM wall panels. In this study in-plane testing of five double-leaf clay brick unreinforced masonry walls was conducted, where the walls were designed to be representative of those generally found in Australia and New Zealand. The walls were tested in as-built and retrofitted conditions using two different methods: (1) timber strong-backs, and (2) plywood overlays. Wall repair attempts were also made using two different techniques: (1) timber strong-backs, and (2) ratchet tie-down straps. The testing procedure and results are highlighted herein. The adopted retrofit solutions both had a positive impact on the seismic performance of the walls.