Maximum shear analysis of clay brick masonry structures for advanced design with bamboo diagonal reinforcement

Abstract The traditional rural houses in Indonesia, constructed with clay brick masonry wall, lack the usage of detailed reinforced concrete frame. Therefore, in the event of an earthquake, numerous structures made of masonry walls experience a collapse. Clay brick masonry walls require alternative reinforcement that is both accessible and readily available, such as bamboo, which is abundant in rural regions of Indonesia. The objective of this study is to analyse the behaviour of wall collapse under lateral stresses and assess the potential for enhancing the wall’s shear strength through the use of bamboo diagonal reinforcement. Bamboo is expected to be more advantageous for low-cost construction, replacing steel, particularly in the rural regions. The test findings are examined and inferences are made for the subsequent analysis phase. The analysis conducted involves the modelling of clay brick masonry walls, both with and without bamboo diagonal reinforcement, using the acquired data on material properties. The inclusion of bamboo diagonal reinforcement results in a 9.57% reduction in the principal stress at maximum normal stress.