In-plane cyclic behaviour of semi interlocking masonry panel under large drift

An innovative masonry building system is being developed in the Centre for Infrastructure Performance and Reliability at The University of Newcastle, Australia. It consists of mortar-less masonry infill panels made of semi-interlocking masonry (SIM) units capable of relative sliding in-plane of a panel and interlocked to prevent sliding out-of-plane of a panel. This new system attempts to improve the earthquake performance of the framed structure by increasing the displacement ductility and the energy dissipation capacity of infill panels. A special steel testing frame with the pin connections of elements was built to test SIM panels. The arrangement with pin connection allows application of storey drift up to 6%. Digital Image Correlation (DIC) technique is used to record the displacement behavior of the masonry panel. This paper presents the results of an experimental testing programme on SIM panels subject to cyclic in-plane lateral displacement. The primary aim of this experimental program is to obtain force-displacement relationships for SIM panel and to understand structural as well as the mechanical failure mode of the system.