An algorithm for numerical analyses for masonry buildings

There exist so many masonry buildings in Turkey, although the rate of new masonry buildings tend to decrease. The most common materials for masonry buildings are stone, mud brick, and terra cotta changing based on the regions. Especially in rural areas, a very large amount of the existing building stock consists of masonry buildings most of which can be classified in a risk group for earthquake behavior. Masonry buildings provide less strength and ductility capacity compared to classical reinforced concrete or steel structures. The investigation of masonry buildings in terms of earthquake risk and seismic vulnerability requires detailed examination based on Turkish Seismic Design Code requirements. The strength and structural behavior of masonry buildings should be obtained to provide them to persist in most areas whether they are monumental or not. Besides, the decision to repair / strengthen or rebuild any masonry buildings can be made based on the current strength . This thesis consists of six chapters. In Chapters 1 and 2, a literature review and basic priniciples for masonry buildings are summarized. In Chapters 3 and 4, a fast, easy to use and realistic algorithm by aid of electronic tables for various material types and slab systems common in masonry buildings is generated based on Turkish Seismic Design Code requirements. In the chapter 5, a simple sample building is analyzed with different program and methods, and the comparison of these analyses results are presented. The results of this study and concluding remarks are summarized in Chapter 6. Key Words: Masonry Buıldıngs, Numerical Analyses, Masonry Wall Strength.