Behaviour of axially loaded fired-claymasonry panels with openings

The area around openings in the form of doors, windows and opening for mechanical and electrical services in axially loaded structural panels are locations of stress concentration. Tension will develop around these opening near the corners. Test results of twelve walls with openings and two control solid walls are presented. A fnite element analysis has also been carried out on the models of the tested panels to represent the effects of the opening on the global axial displacement of these panels. It was found that the location of the opening and the type of the lateral supports have a minor effect on the values of axial vertical displacement of the wall panels. However, the values of the cracking load for panels with free top end were reduced by 42% to 70 % as compared with those of laterally restrained panels at the top end.