Out-of-plane performance of brick veneer walls on wood frame construction

Full-scale brick veneer wall panel specimens, representing typical residential construction practice, were investigated under static and dynamic out-of-plane lateral loading on a shake table. The tests captured the overall performance of the wall system, including interaction and load-sharing between the brick masonry veneer, corrugated sheet metal ties, and wood frame backup. The tests evaluated the effects of two different tie installation methods, as well as a veneer-to-backup connection repair using post-installed mechanical anchors. The progression of system damage was noted up until partial collapse of the veneer walls; tie stiffness and strength were found to significantly affect wall performance at all stages of behavior. Analytical models for veneer wall systems are being developed based on these experiments to further study the vulnerability of this type of construction.