The 2.4 m by 2.4 m by 140mm thick walls have a calculated yield shear load of around 110kN and a yield displacement of around 30 mm this is roughly tenfold greater than reinforced masonry.
With an ultimate yield of 130mm again tenfold that of reinforced masonry (as shown above).
TremorFlex achieved a ductility factor of 4.5 in the test and a level of 4 (fully ductile) is to be used in design.
Reinforced masonry with mesh and steel achieved ductility factor of 1.5 and 2.5 respectively. (Jullian Carrillo et al, 2014)
So you appreciate the Tremorflex wall could technically withstand a Richter 7 earthquake which is ten times the magnitude of the Mansfield earthquake which hit in September 2021.
Based on the WSU full scale wall tests and applied test data, calculations were prepared by Dr Kevan Heathcote, M. Eng, Sc, M.Com, PhD to demonstrate the response of a TremorFlex wall to earthquake action, compared with that of a comparable reinforced concrete block wall.
As shown below it was assumed that the wall was a shear wall in the lower storey of a 4.8 metre high wall which is 5.4 metres long. A roof load of 2 kN/m was assumed. The assumptions in the analysis are also given in the figure below. The analysis was carried out with reference to NZS1170.5 and NZS 4230.
The results of the analysis were that a TremorFlex wall would be capable of withstanding an Earthquake of magnitude MM 9 (Z=0.65-1.24) which roughly corresponds to a Richter magnitude scale of 7 (Ref Wald et al, Caltech and The Geography site).
While an equivalent reinforced masonry wall would be capable of withstanding an Earthquake of magnitude MM 8 (Z=0.34-0.65) which roughly corresponds to a Richter magnitude scale of 6-7.
EARTHQUAKE STUDY SUMMARY
TREMORFLEX WALL VS CONCRETE BLOCK WALL
Dr Kevan Heathcote, M. Eng, Sc, M.Com, PhD
Comparison of Walls
In order to demonstrate the response of Tremorflex walls to earthquake actions, the tested walls were compared with that of a comparable concrete block wall.
As shown below it was assumed that the wall was a shear wall in the lower storey of a 4.8 metre high wall which is 5.4 metres long.
By comparing V* to the resistance of the wall Vn, a value of Z can be calculated which resembles the ground acceleration each wall could be expected to withstand.
Conclusion
Based on the calculations the TremorFlex wall would be capable of withstanding an Earthquake of magnitude MM 9 (Z=0.65-1.24) which roughly corresponds to a Richter magnitude scale of 7 (Ref Wald et al, Caltech and The Geography site)
Based on the calculations an equivalent masonry wall would be capable of withstanding an Earthquake of magnitude MM 8 (Z=0.34-0.65) which roughly corresponds to a Richter magnitude scale of 6-7