This doctoral dissertation focuses on the seismic resistance of non.-structural masonry elements. Extensive experimental research was performed in order to analyse the out-of-plane seismic behaviour of slender non-structural masonry walls. This type of non-structural wall is frequently seen in older public multi-floor buildings (e.g., schools, hospitals) built before the year 1964, when the first seismic codes were released in Slovenia and are especially vulnerable due to their slenderness and amplified seismic load on the higher floors. Out-of-plane quasi-static cyclic tests were performed on two types of full scale non-structural masonry walls and five different strengthening systems were proposed using flexible adhesive and two different glass fibre composite fabrics. The experimental research confirms the low out-of-plane seismic resistance of as-built non-structural masonry wall specimens. However, the out-of-plane performance is significantly improved when applying the proposed strengthening systems. For non-strengthened and strengthened specimens the characteristic limit state values were determined in regards to their out-of-plane resistance and mid-height out-of-plane displacement. Force-based and displacement-based analytical models were used to assess the out-of-plane capacity and results were compared to the experimental data. Finally, the vulnerability of non-structural walls was presented on an typical existing multi-floor public building (the Rihard Jakopič elementary school). Floor response acceleration spectrums were determined with the numerical time history dynamic analysis and the simplified direct method. The analysis of the results confirmed the amplification of the seismic load in higher floors due to dynamic response of the primary structure. The analysed non-structural masonry walls in higher floors showed the higher vulnerability in comparison to the non-structural masonry walls in lower floors. Consequently, the non-structural walls in higher floors are already vulnerable during earthquakes with lower seismic intensity.
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