EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON DEFORMATION MECHANISM OF ASHLAR MASONRY WALLS DURING AN EARTHQUAKE

Abstract

Masonry walls of railways are often used to protect cut slopes and retaining walls on the toe of embankment slopes , because their materials are easily available. In urban areas in Japan, therefore, there are a number of masonry walls of this type (still in use) that were built when the railway was constructed. We investigated the masonry walls of this type along railway lines, studied their standard structure, and performed shaking table tests on the models of such masonry walls. As a result, we were able to clarify their deformation mechanism and the effect of the building process (dry or wet masonry), height of wall and horizontal resistance of the foundation on their behavior during earthquakes.