Reliability-based safety assessment of structural masonry in flexure

The paper develops a methodology for assessing the structural reliability of unreinforced masonry in vertical bending and for calibrating the capacity reduction factor for bending. The reliability index corresponding to the current capacity reduction factor in the Australian Masonry Structures Code AS 3700 (ϕ = 0.6) lies approximately mid-way between the values 3.8 and 4.3. To achieve a target reliability index of 4.3 it was found that the capacity reduction factor may need to be decreased to 0.47. However, the effect of wall length and mortar type needs to be examined further to assess their effect on reliability and to consider whether an improved behaviour model could be used.