---
title: "Typical damage in masonry under lateral loads"
subject: "Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure"
chapter: 9
key: "semester_5/concrete_technology_and_masonry_structure:typical-damage-lateral-loads"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_5/concrete_technology_and_masonry_structure/typical-damage-lateral-loads
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Typical damage in masonry under lateral loads

Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure · Chapter 9: Masonry structures under lateral loads

- Asked in: 2081 Baisakh, 3 marks; 2070 Chaitra, 4 marks (asked 2 times)
- Video: [Failure in masonry construction](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPAvtX2zwxE) — MUKUND MURARI DAS
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_5/concrete_technology_and_masonry_structure/typical-damage-lateral-loads
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_5/concrete_technology_and_masonry_structure/chapter-9

## Question

Explain the typical damage in masonry structures under lateral loads with sketches.

## Short answer

Typical damage includes diagonal shear cracks, horizontal bed-joint sliding, vertical corner separation, out-of-plane collapse, cracks around openings, delamination of multi-leaf walls, and roof pulling away from supporting walls.

## Answer

Under earthquake or wind, unreinforced masonry buildings show characteristic damage because the material is heavy, brittle and weak in tension.

1. **Diagonal (X-shaped) shear cracks** in walls and piers parallel to the force; stair-stepped through joints or through bricks.
2. **Horizontal sliding cracks** along bed joints near the base, plinth or above the lintel.
3. **Vertical cracks at corners and wall junctions** where walls separate because of poor connection and out-of-plane bending.
4. **Out-of-plane collapse** of walls, gables and parapets (overturning, bulging, mid-height horizontal cracking).
5. **Cracks around openings:** diagonal cracks from corners of doors and windows; piers between openings fail in shear.
6. **Delamination of wall leaves** in thick two-leaf or rubble walls.
7. **Roof/floor damage and pounding:** slab pulling out from supporting walls; roof falls when walls collapse.

```text
 Diagonal cracks      Corner crack         Opening cracks
 +--------+           |   |                +----------+
 |\      /|         --+   +--              | /|  []  |\ |
 | \    / |           crack                |/ |      | \|
 +--------+                                +----------+
```

These damages can be reduced by bands, corner reinforcement, proper roof-wall anchorage and good mortar.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Why does unreinforced masonry show characteristic damage?
   A. It is light and ductile
   B. It is heavy, brittle and weak in tension
   C. It is strong in tension
   D. It has rigid ties
   Answer: B. These properties make cracking and sudden failure typical. (Key point: Why damage occurs)

2. What causes vertical cracks at corners?
   A. Poor connection between walls and out-of-plane bending
   B. Diagonal shear in piers
   C. Settlement of roof
   D. Delamination
   Answer: A. Walls separate at junctions. (Key point: Corner cracks)

3. Where do cracks appear around openings?
   A. At the centre of solid wall
   B. Only at plinth
   C. Diagonal cracks from the corners of doors and windows
   D. Parallel to the beam
   Answer: C. Piers between openings fail in shear. (Key point: Openings)

## Related in Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure

- [Design process for masonry wall under lateral loads](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fconcrete_technology_and_masonry_structure%3Adesign-wall-lateral-loading) — Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure, chapter 9
- [Elements resisting lateral loads in masonry](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fconcrete_technology_and_masonry_structure%3Alateral-load-resisting-elements) — Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure, chapter 9, asked 6×
- [Common deficiency and failure under gravity, lateral loads](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fconcrete_technology_and_masonry_structure%3Adeficiency-failure-gravity-lateral) — Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure, chapter 9
- [Uses and scope of masonry structures](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fconcrete_technology_and_masonry_structure%3Amasonry-uses-scope) — Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure, chapter 7, asked 5×
- [Advantages of masonry structures](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fconcrete_technology_and_masonry_structure%3Amasonry-advantages) — Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure, chapter 7
- [Lateral load elements; stepwise [cut off]](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fconcrete_technology_and_masonry_structure%3Alateral-elements-stepwise-74c) — Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure, chapter 9

## Related in other subjects

- [Typical damage patterns in masonry buildings](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fdesign_of_timber_and_masonry_structures%3Adamage-patterns-masonry-lateral-loads) — Design of Timber and Masonry Structures, chapter 6
- [Distribution of lateral force among masonry walls](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fdesign_of_timber_and_masonry_structures%3Alateral-load-sharing-among-piers) — Design of Timber and Masonry Structures, chapter 6
- [Drop structures: need and types with sketches](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Firrigation_and_drainage_engineering%3Adrop-structures-types-sketch) — Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, chapter 7, asked 6×
- [Typical pavement structures sketch; otta seal](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftransportation_engineering_ii%3Apavement-structures-sketch-otta-seal) — Transportation Engineering II, chapter 3