Evaluation of seismic design provisions for masonry in the United States

An evaluation of two sets of seismic design provisions for masonry construction in the United States, namely, the 1979 Uniform Building Code and the ATC-3-06 Tentative Provisions for the Development of Seismic Design Regulations for Building is given. The method of evaluation is based on an overdesign ratio which compares the shear wall area required to resist code loads with that required to resist realistic earthquake loads. The latter area is determined from test results from continuing masonry research program. A summary of the test results is included. A comparison of the shear wall areas required by the two sets of seismic provisions are given, and changes to both sets of provisions are suggested.