LAUSR

This study is based on the simultaneous application of in-plane and out-of-plane seismic loads on unreinforced dry masonry (URM) walls. The mode of failure under such a type of loading is the separation of the corner portion from the rest of the structure. This type of failure generally occurs in old masonry structures in which the strength of the mortar has deteriorated, and the floor of the structure is weakly coupled with the rest of the structure. Such structures generally lack the box-type behavior of masonry buildings. Single-story dry-stacked masonry models were considered and subjected to bidirectional loading to study such failures. These masonry models were developed and analyzed using the finite-element (FE) software package Abaqus, and results were verified using experimental testing of the half-scaled model. Simplified corner failure mechanisms and limiting acceleration formulation were proposed based on the observed failure pattern.