Masonry structures, although classically suitable to withstand gravitational loads, are sensibly vulnerable if subjected to extraordinary actions such as earthquakes, exhibiting cracks even for events of moderate intensity compared to other structural typologies like as reinforced concrete or steel buildings. In the last half-century, the scientific community devoted a consistent effort to the computational analysis of masonry structures in order to develop tools for the prediction (and the assessment) of their structural behavior. Given the complexity of the mechanics of masonry, different approaches and scales of representation of the mechanical behavior of masonry, as well as different strategies of analysis, have been proposed. In this paper, a comprehensive review of the existing modeling strategies for masonry structures, as well as a novel classification of these strategies are presented. Although a fully coherent collocation of all the modeling approaches is substantially impossible due to the peculiar features of each solution proposed, this classification attempts to make some order on the wide scientific production on this field. The modeling strategies are herein classified into four main categories: block-based models, continuum models, geometry-based models, and macroelement models. Each category is comprehensively reviewed. The future challenges of computational analysis of masonry structures are also discussed.

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Modeling Strategies for the Computational Analysis of Unreinforced Masonry Structures: Review and Classification

Removable friction dampers for low-damage steel beam-to-column joints

Lightweight Steel Frames (LSF) made by framing thin gauge cold-formed steel (CFS) into different structural elements such as walls, trusses and joists are commonplace in Australia and many parts of the world. The great progress in the knowledge of CFS structures achieved in the past two decades, together with the modern design and fabrication methods supported by progressively improved specifications, have equipped the industry of the lightweight steel construction with tools and confidence to play an important part in the future of building construction. Despite the ever-increasing demand on the use of cold formed steel (CFS) framing into more complex and taller structures, the lateral load resistance capacity of lightweight steel frames has proven to be a major hindrance and a major concern. This paper reviews and summarises the research developments made in the area of lateral load resistance capacity of lightweight steel frames (LSF) as published in leading journals and codes’ provisions in the area. Research advances in conventional systems such as shear walls clad with face sheathings and LSF strap-braced wall systems in addition to other less conventional systems such as special bolted moment frames are reviewed here, and the solutions for improving the lateral performance of these systems are classified.

Lateral force resisting systems in lightweight steel frames : recent research advances

Experimental investigation of new internal-diaphragm connections to CFT columns under cyclic loading

A state-of-the-art review on passive friction dampers and their applications

I-beam to box–column connection by a vertical plate passing through the column

In this paper experiments are presented to investigate the seismic response of steel sheathed cold-formed steel (CFS) shear walls using gypsum and fiber cement board claddings. Six steel sheathed wall specimens of various cladding configurations were tested under cyclic loading. The use of claddings at either or both sides of the walls results in an increase of their lateral stiffness, shear strength and energy dissipation capacity by up to 67, 80% and 76%, respectively. On the use of claddings connected to the CFS walls their effects on the shear strength must be incorporated into the current design specifications for an efficient and safe design.

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Seyed Rasoul Mirghaderi

Papers

I-beam to box–column connection by a vertical plate passing through the column

Experiments on seismic behaviour of steel sheathed cold-formed steel shear walls cladded by gypsum and fiber cement boards

Seismic performance of the Accordion-Web RBS connection

Behavior of adhesive bonded anchors under tension and shear loads

Moment-connection between I-beam and built-up square column by a diagonal through plate