CALCULATION METHOD FOR STABILITY OF SELF-BEARING MASONRY WALL IN HIGH AND WIDE SPACE

Based on the elastic buckling theory, the energy method is adopted and the deflection test functions satisfying the boundary conditions are selected, the formulas for calculating the buckling critical bearing capacity of thin plates under uniformly distributed axial loads are derived with the aid of computational programs developed in Python, and three different boundary cases are considered: opposite sides simply supported and other sides free, three sides simply supported one side free and, four sides simply supported. The results are verified by finite element analysis, and the simplified calculation formulas between ξ of buckling characteristic coefficient and aspect ratio r of plate are developed. Based on the principle that the out-of-plane flexural stiffness and in-plane axial stiffness of masonry walls are equal, the non-uniform anisotropic material of masonry wall with constructional columns and ring beams is equivalent to isotropic material, and the reliability of equivalent model for wall buckling analysis is verified. The stability design method of self-bearing masonry wall with different arrangement is proposed, and its application in two practical projects is discussed. The method presented is easy to operate and to consider the influence of different boundary conditions of masonry walls, the effect of constructional columns and ring beams, and the distribution characteristic of triangular axial forces of self-bearing walls. The conclusions can be used as a reference for similar engineering design.