ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the preliminary results of the first two tests in an extensive testing program of half-scale three-story reinforced masonry walls with door and window openings. Bracing walls are important buildings elements and have attracted the attention of many researchers. Masonry walls are usually built with door or window openings, which need to be considered carefully, but can be ignored if relatively small. The experimental program focused on studying the behaviour of half-scale partially grouted reinforced masonry walls with openings. The test matrix consists of nine coupled walls, out of which three walls have a door opening coupled by a masonry beam, three walls have a door opening coupled with reinforced concrete beams and three are walls with a window opening coupled with masonry beams. The test setup and method of loading adopted in the experimental program were designed to simulate the response that a masonry wall with openings would experience during lateral loading.
