Quasi-Static Cyclic Behavior of a Reinforced Masonry C-Shaped Core Wall with Boundary Elements

The design of seismic-resistant mid- to high-rise reinforced masonry (RM) buildings requires a reliable seismic force-resisting system (SFRS) that offers sufficient lateral strength and deformation capacities. Core walls are frequently selected as the SFRS for corresponding reinforced concrete (RC) structures. This is because core walls allow for the integration of elevators, staircases, and utility shafts within the building core, optimizing the use of floor space in high-rise structures. Further, they accommodate various architectural layouts and floor plans, providing designers with flexibility in building design while ensuring seismic performance and structural integrity. While the literature contains numerous studies focused on the structural behavior of RC core walls, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, none have investigated the structural response of reinforced masonry core walls. This study experimentally evaluated the structural behavior of a reinforced masonry core wall with boundary elements (RMCW+BEs) subjected to unidirectional in-plane lateral cyclic loading along its major axis. The proposed wall geometry acts as a prospective alternative SFRS to rectangular RM shear walls with or without boundary elements due to its improved structural and architectural features in typical RM construction. In this respect, a C-shaped RMCW+BEs were tested under cyclic loading. The wall represents the first story of one of the core walls utilized as the main SFRS in a 12-story building. The experimental results demonstrated the capability of the proposed wall geometry to attain a high level of ductility (14Δy) without any reduction in the lateral capacity. Further, the wall showed a flexural dominant ductile response with an enhanced distribution of cracks and a sequence of damage with high levels of dissipated energy. Moreover, the wall showed a calculated ductility response modification factor (Rd) of 11.4 at the maximum load. The experimental study presented herein provides valuable insights into the use of RMCW+BEs as a potential SFRS in RM buildings. The results of this investigation are expected to make valuable contributions to advancing seismic-resistant construction practices and improving the safety and resilience of RM buildings in North American seismic zones.