Three-dimensional modelling of wall-beam interaction in structural masonry buildings

ABSTRACT: Wall-beam interaction (wall-beam system) is a phenomenon that requires further investigation in order to be consistently incorporated into structural building analysis. Researchers such as Wood, Rosenhaupt, Burhouse, Stafford Smith, Navaratnarajah, Davies, Riddington and Armed conducted tests on specimens to develop simplified analysis models, emphasizing the behavior of walls without openings under one span beams. The present study performed computational analysis using an specific equivalent frame model in order to study the behavior of the wall-beam system in more complex wall and beam arrangements. The examples considered the linear elastic behavior of materials and consisted of assessing stress distribution and displacements on support beams, in addition to stresses at the bottom of the walls, for panels in a real structural masonry building. Two- and three-dimensional analyses were used and the results showed the importance of three-dimensional analysis of wall interconnections. The effects of eccentricity between the vertical plane of the wall and horizontal support beam axis were also evaluated, showing the strong influence of twisting moments in support beam design.