Experimental investigation of the behavior of unreinforced masonry structures under horizontal loads as defined in TBDY-2018

Masonry structures constitute a significant portion of the building stock in Turkey and are commonly used, particularly along the East Anatolian, North Anatolian, and Western Aegean fault lines. These structures are often preferred for economic reasons; however, due to inadequate material quality and construction techniques, they present a considerable seismic risk. Among the various masonry types defined in the Turkish Building Earthquake Code (TBDY 2018), unreinforced masonry structures were experimentally investigated in this study. A full-scale, single-story, single-span unreinforced masonry specimen was constructed in a laboratory environment and subjected to reversed cyclic loading tests. The loading procedure of the experiment was conducted in a load-controlled manner up to the maximum load, and in a displacement-controlled manner after reaching the maximum load. At each stage of the experimental studies, the applied load and displacement values were recorded through a computer. The sizes, thicknesses, and locations of the cracks formed in the structure were carefully monitored and marked on the structure, and the damage state was determined in detail. This study aimed to evaluate the seismic performance of unreinforced masonry structures, focusing on crack formation regions under tensile and compressive loads. The findings reveal that cracks predominantly form around window openings, and unreinforced masonry structures exhibit brittle behavior. Consequently, the study highlights the importance of investigating other types of masonry structures and conducting comparative analytical analyses to understand their performance comprehensively.