Seismic Design Guide for Low-Rise Confined Masonry Buildings

The purpose of these guidelines, prepared by a commettee of international experts led by Roberto Mieli of Mexico and Svetlana Brzev of Canada, is to:

• Explain the mechanism of seismic response of confined masonry buildings for in- and out-ofplane seismic effects and other relevant seismic response issues,
• Recommend prescriptive design provisions for low-rise buildings related to the wall layout and density, and prescribe minimum size requirements for structural components of confined masonry buildings (tie-columns, tie-beams, walls), reinforcement size and detailing, and
• Provide a summary of the seismic design provisions for confined masonry buildings from relevant international codes.

This document is divided into three chapters. Chapter 1 provides an overview of confined masonry construction and its components. It discusses the seismic performance of confined masonry buildings in past earthquakes, and is based largely on the publication Earthquake-Resistant Confined Masonry Construction (Brzev, 2008). Chapter 2 presents general requirements related to confined masonry construction. Chapter 3 outlines a guideline for low-rise non-engineered confined masonry buildings (up to two stories high). These buildings could be constructed without engineered design performed by qualified engineers or architects, and thus no design calculations or procedures are included. Many single-family dwellings are built in this manner.

This document was developed by a group of international experts in earthquake engineering and confined masonry construction. The recommendations are based on design and construction experience and research studies from countries and regions where confined masonry construction has been practiced for many decades, including Mexico, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Iran, Indonesia, China, Algeria and Slovenia. References to relevant provisions of various international standards and codes have been made in the document.