Title:
Out-of-Plane Structural Performance of Stack Bond Masonry Walls with Bond Beams
Author(s):
Jonathan Dirk, Samuel Ehikhuenmen, Sreekanta Das, and Bennett Banting
Publication:
Structural Journal
Volume:
123
Issue:
2
Appears on pages(s):
87-98
Keywords:
axial loading; bond beams; failure mode; flexural behavior; out-of-plane bending; reinforced concrete masonry wall; running bond; stack bond
DOI:
10.14359/51749302
Date:
3/1/2026
Abstract:
This study investigates the structural performance improvement when bond beams are included in stack bond walls. Nine 4.0 x 2.4 x 0.20 m masonry walls were tested under out-of-plane and axial loads. The walls were constructed in three configurations: running bond, stack bond without bond beams, and stack bond with bond beams following TMS 402/602 standard. Results show similar failure patterns and crack formation between running bond and stack bond walls, but stack bond walls with bond beams exhibited distinct behavior. Stack bond walls with bond beams showed slightly higher out-of-plane flexural capacity compared to running bond walls, with a difference ranging from 4 to 5%. These findings provide valuable insights for evaluating the structural performance of concrete masonry walls with different bonding patterns. This study suggests a potential revision to the Canadian (CSA S304) masonry design standard, potentially lifting restrictions on stack bond masonry wall construction.
Related References:
1. CSA S304-19, “Design of Masonry Structures,” CSA Group, Toronto, ON, Canada, 2019, 175 pp.
2. TMS 402/602-22, “Building Code Requirements and Specification for Masonry Structures,” The Masonry Society, Longmont, CO, 2022.
3. Dutrisac, H., and Banting, B., “Towards the Harmonization of Canadian and American Masonry Structures Design Standards,” CSA Group, Toronto, ON, Canada, 2021.
4. Alonso, A.; Gonzalez, R.; Elsayed, M.; Banting, B.; Guzman, M.; Pettit, C.; Li, Y.; Tomlinson, D.; and Cruz-Noguez, C., “Experimental Testing of Tall Slender Masonry Walls with Different Rotational Base Stiffnesses,” Journal of Structural Engineering, ASCE, V. 150, No. 3, 2024, p. 04024010. doi: 10.1061/JSENDH.STENG-12533
5. Pettit, C., and Cruz-Noguez, C., “Effect of Rotational Base Stiffness on the Behavior of Load-Bearing Masonry Walls,” Journal of Structural Engineering, ASCE, V. 147, No. 12, 2021, p. 04021215. doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)ST.1943-541X.0003209
6. Fattal, S. G., and Cattaneo, L. E., “Structural Performance of Masonry Walls Under Compression and Flexure,” National Bureau of Standards Building Science Series, V. 73, 1976, pp. 1-57. doi: 10.6028/NBS.BSS.73
7. Liu, Y.; Dawe, J.; and Moxon, D., “Reinforced Masonry Concrete Block Walls Under Combined Axial and Uniformly Distributed Lateral Load,” Proceedings of the 13th International Brick and Block Masonry Conference, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, 2004, pp. 1-10.
8. Liu, Y., and Dawe, J. L., “Experimental Determination of Masonry Beam-Column Behaviour,” Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering, V. 28, No. 5, 2001, pp. 794-803. doi: 10.1139/l01-047
9. Yokel, F. Y.; Mathey, R. G.; and Dikkers, R. D., “Strength of Masonry Walls Under Compressive and Transverse Loads,” National Bureau of Standards Building Science Series, V. 34, 1971, pp. 1-68. doi: 10.6028/NBS.BSS.34
10. Sparling, A., and Palermo, D., “Response of Full-Scale Slender Masonry Walls with Conventional and NSM Steel Reinforcement Subjected to Axial and Out-of-Plane Loads,” Journal of Structural Engineering, ASCE, V. 149, No. 1, 2023, p. 04022208. doi: 10.1061/JSENDH.STENG-11364
11. Abboud, B. E.; Hamid, A. A.; and Harris, H. G., “Flexural Behaviour of Reinforced Concrete Masonry Walls under Out-of-Plane Monotonic Loads,” ACI Structural Journal, V. 93, No. 3, May-June 1996, pp. 327-336. doi: 10.14359/9692
12. Hamid, A. A.; Abboud, B. E.; Farah, M. W.; Hatem, M. K.; and Harris, H. G., “Response of Reinforced Block Masonry Walls to Out-of-Plane Static Loads,” National Science Foundation, Washington, DC, 1989, 130 pp.
13. Mackintosh, A., and Dickey, W. L., “Results of Variation of ‘b’ or Effective Width in Flexure in Concrete Block Panels,” Masonry Institute of America, Torrance, CA, 1971.
14. Sparling, A.; Palermo, D.; and Hashemian, F., “Out-of-Plane Flexural Testing and Stiffness Response of Concrete Masonry Walls with NSM Steel Reinforcement,” Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering, V. 48, No. 7, 2020, pp. 749-762. doi: 10.1139/cjce-2019-0685
15. Heydariha, Z.; Ghaednia, H.; and Das, S., “Effect of Grout Strength and Block Size on the Performance of Masonry Beam,” Construction and Building Materials, V. 157, 2017, pp. 685-693. doi: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.09.130
16. Zohrehheydariha, J.; Das, S.; and Banting, B., “Effect of Unit Bonding Patterns on the Structural Performance of Loadbearing Concrete Block Masonry Beams,” Journal of Structural Engineering, V. 145, No. 1, 2019, p. 04018233. doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)ST.1943-541X.0002234
17. CSA A165.1-19, “Concrete Block Masonry Units,” CSA Group, Toronto, ON, Canada, 2019.
18. CSA A179-19, “Mortar and Grout for Unit Masonry,” CSA Group, Toronto, ON, Canada, 2019.
19. ASTM E8/E8M-22, “Standard Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials,” ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, 2022, 31 pp.
20. CSA A371-14, “Masonry Construction for Buildings,” CSA Group, Toronto, ON, Canada, 2014.