ABSTRACT
The in-plane behavior of partially grouted masonry wall specimens, built using clay bricks with vertical holes, hosting vertical steel reinforcement, is studied. They were rigidly attached at a reaction frame and were subjected at their top to a constant vertical load together with a horizontal seismic-type cyclic load. A numerical simulation was formed, employing micro-modeling, in an effort to reproduce numerically the observed performance. In this numerical simulation the clay brick units, the mortar joints and the longitudinal reinforcement were modeled separately, following all the geometric and construction detailing together with the measured non-linear mechanical characteristics of the mortar joints and the steel reinforcement. A critical factor of the observed performance was the behavior of the employed clay brick unit which developed local compressive-type modes of failure, which influence the overall seismic response. The various steps taken to develop clay brick units capable to resist such local compressive-type loads are also presented and discussed.
