Application of the arc-length method for the stability analysis of solid unreinforced masonry walls under lateral loads

The stability behavior of slender unreinforced masonry members (URM) under out-of-plane lateral loads in proportion to the axial load is investigated, using a finite element model developed previously [Lu M, Schultz AE, Stolarski HK. Analysis of the influence of tensile strength on the stability of eccentrically compressed slender unreinforced masonry walls under lateral loads. Journal of Structural Engineering (ASCE) 2004;130(6):921-33]. However, significant changes are made to the solution procedure, the most important of which is application of the arc-length method. A very slender wall with a height-thickness ratio of 30 is used as an example for systematic analysis. The influence of tensile strength and slenderness parameter on the buckling capacity is also investigated. It is found that tensile strength, though very low, may produce peculiar phenomena in the post-buckling equilibrium paths. Lateral loads are shown to have a similar effect on the buckling behavior to vertical load eccentricity.