Abstract:
Buildings are subjected to deformations of their reinforced concrete structure due to vertical loads that can lead, in certain cases, to the significant cracking of the unreinforced masonry (URM) infill walls, therefore requiring the development of specific knowledge of these types of deformations in order to minimise them.
Aiming the evaluation of buildings with reinforced concrete structures subjected to vertical deformations, the
mechanical characteristics of their infill masonry walls, as well as of their interface with the supporting
concrete elements, are hereanalysed. The basic compressionbehaviour of brick masonry is assessed
particularly through theprevious analysis of a vertical compression test of a masonry specimen. The
mechanical behaviour characteristics of the constituents (bricks, and mortar joints) are analysed to account for their influence on the compression behaviour of masonry infill, aiming particularly for the prevision of their
cracking in case of vertical deformations of the supportingreinforced concrete (RC) elements. Based on that
evaluation, the analysis of masonry walls subjected to vertical deformations of theirsupports is made through
the assessment of the relevant characteristic behaviour of masonry wall-beam/slab assembly in case of vertical load. A general modelling approach of the behaviour of URM infills and the interaction with their supports is generally accessed. F inally, the preventive control of deformations of masonry wall-beam/slab assembly is discussed
