ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to identify the most appropriate design procedure for the estimation of the seismic resistance of masonry walls. This is done through comparison of design lateral resistance with the results from experimentally obtained test database for unreinforced masonry blockwork walls. Several theoretical models and code provisions for calculating lateral resistance were studied to derive an adequate model error. The chapter provides a probabilistic model error to calculate lateral resistance while incorporating uncertainties related to lateral test. A statistical analysis of model error is performed taking into consideration different predicted provisions. In order to establish a statistically based model error, methods of statistical inference should be applied on the distribution model. For the majority of code provisions all analysed probability distributions overestimate the lower tail, leading to conservatively estimated probability of failure. The chapter argues that limiting values for particular design procedure were strictly used according to code provisions.
