System-Level Seismic Damage Assessment Methodology for Reinforced Masonry Shear Wall Buildings

Damage state (DS) assessment of reinforced masonry shear wall (RMSW) building systems is key for developing simulation tools for pre- and post-earthquake risk-assessment frameworks. However, the majority of available RMSW damage models are generated based on DSs that are identified from component testing and/or modeling. Recent system-level studies showed that individual wall (component-level) responses might vary significantly from those observed when similar components are tested within an RMSW building (i.e., at the system level). Subsequently, in working toward more representative damage models for the next generation of seismic risk assessment standards, the current study focuses on developing a system-level-based damage state (SDS) assessment methodology as an alternative to the currently adopted component-level-based damage state (CDS) assessment approaches. Within this focus, and based on the available building response knowledge levels and expected component damage sequence, four SDS assessment methods, linked to different system-level damage indicators, are proposed. To demonstrate the application of the proposed methodology, the experimental results of a two-story RMSW building tested under simulated seismic loading are adopted in the current study. The results show that response predictions based on the CDS might be unconservative due to possible unexpected system-level failure modes and load-resisting mechanisms. The study shows that some RMSW system-level mechanisms (e.g., wall–diaphragm coupling), and the subsequent damage, cannot be evaluated through component-level testing.