Numerical strategy and openings-focused sensitivity study of the seismic behavior of partially grouted masonry shear walls with openings

Partially grouted reinforced masonry (PG-RM) is a commonly used structural system in several seismic-prone countries. In recent years, experimental and numerical investigations have been conducted to identify the main parameters that influence their seismic performance. However, little attention has been devoted to investigating the influence of openings on their structural response. Although experimental tests have provided valuable insights into their behavior, numerical simulations have emerged as a complementary strategy for lower economic costs and logistical requirements. In this context, a two-dimensional finite element macro-model is implemented to simulate the in-plane behavior of PG-RM walls containing openings. The concrete damage plasticity (CDP) model is used to describe masonry's nonlinear response. The model is validated against the experimental results of four full-scale PG-RM walls previously tested by the authors. Then, considering both loading directions, an openings-focused sensitivity study is conducted to investigate their effect on the in-plane lateral response. The implemented model was capable of simulating the in-plane behavior of PG-RM walls containing openings, as good agreement was achieved between numerical results and experimental tests in terms of lateral strength and failure mode. As expected, sensitivity analysis indicated that the wall shear capacity decreased when the openings' height or width or the number of openings increased. Based on the results, this work proposes an effective height to estimate the shear capacity of PG-RM walls with openings, where the height of the pier is established as the average of the heights that constrain the pier on its sides.