Out-of-plane behavior of confined masonry walls with aspect ratios greater than one

An experimental study on the out-of-plane behavior of confined masonry walls is presented. Four confined walls with aspect ratios greater than one were tested in the laboratory. Walls were subjected to combined axial and out-of-plane uniform loads. The variables studied were the aspect ratio and the axial compressive stress of walls. It was observed that the out-of-plane strength of walls increased as the aspect ratio or the axial compressive stress increased. Failure of walls was associated with crushing of masonry. Analytical out-of-plane strength of walls was determined using the yielding line, failure line, modified yielding line, compressive strut and bidirectional strut methods. It was concluded that the experimental out-of-plane strength of walls was best predicted with the bidirectional strut method.