Confined masonry walls subjected to combined axial loads and out-of-plane uniform pressures

This paper presents the results of a study on the behavior of three full-scale confined masonry walls subjected to combined axial loads and out-of-plane uniform pressures. The variable studied was the wall axial load. Analytical models were developed to predict out-of-plane cracking and maximum pressures. The former was predicted using the finite element method and the latter using the spring-strut method. This last method was modified to include the effect of the wall axial load. Experimental cracking and maximum pressures were compared with those obtained from analytical models. Based on the experimental results, it was concluded that as the axial load increases, the out-of-plane maximum pressure also increases. However, this latter value is limited by crushing of the masonry. By comparing experimental and analytical results, it was concluded that the out-of-plane cracking and maximum pressures are in general well predicted by the analytical models developed in this work.