In-plane experimental behavior of full-scale unreinforced crude stone masonry walls under cyclic loading

This paper aims to present the design, strengthening and testing of full scale masonry walls and arches. The preservation of our cultural heritage is a really important topic. Majority of masonry structures are deteriorated because of ageing effects, load increments, movements at their foundations, etc. Because of this, retrofitting is needed. In order to afford this problem, a compatible and minimally invasive strengthening technique based on Textile Reinforced Mortar (TRM) is developed. The experimental campaign consists of the characterisation of the constitutive materials of the stone structures and the strengthening textile and mortar (TRM has been characterised by pure tensile tests). Furthermore, the influence of the different arrangements of the masonry and mortar type has been analysed by testing 24 masonry prisms. Finally, 12 full-scale stone arches have been erected, strengthened and tested. The purpose is to compare the mechanical behaviour up to failure of both unstrengthened and strengthened structures. During the tests the effectiveness of the technique has been proved being the ultimate load up to 21 times higher.

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Experimental behavior of full-scale exterior beam-column space joints retrofitted by ferrocement layers under cyclic loading

Case Studies in Construction Materials ◽

10.1016/j.cscm.2017.11.002 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

pp. 61-78 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ibrahim G. Shaaban ◽

Osama A. Seoud

Keyword(s):

Cyclic Loading ◽

Full Scale ◽

Column Space ◽

Experimental Behavior

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Experimental Evaluation of Shear Behavior of Stone Masonry Wall

Materials ◽

10.3390/ma14092313 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (9) ◽

pp. 2313

Author(s):

Maria Luisa Beconcini ◽

Pietro Croce ◽

Paolo Formichi ◽

Filippo Landi ◽

Benedetta Puccini

Keyword(s):

Shear Behavior ◽

Stone Masonry ◽

Masonry Walls ◽

Mechanical Parameters ◽

In Situ Tests ◽

Capacity Curves ◽

Historical Structures ◽

Definition Of

The evaluation of the shear behavior of masonry walls is a first fundamental step for the assessment of existing masonry structures in seismic zones. However, due to the complexity of modelling experimental behavior and the wide variety of masonry types characterizing historical structures, the definition of masonry’s mechanical behavior is still a critical issue. Since the possibility to perform in situ tests is very limited and often conflicting with the needs of preservation, the characterization of shear masonry behavior is generally based on reference values of mechanical properties provided in modern structural codes for recurrent masonry categories. In the paper, a combined test procedure for the experimental characterization of masonry mechanical parameters and the assessment of the shear behavior of masonry walls is presented together with the experimental results obtained on three stone masonry walls. The procedure consists of a combination of three different in situ tests to be performed on the investigated wall. First, a single flat jack test is executed to derive the normal compressive stress acting on the wall. Then a double flat jack test is carried out to estimate the elastic modulus. Finally, the proposed shear test is performed to derive the capacity curve and to estimate the shear modulus and the shear strength. The first results obtained in the experimental campaign carried out by the authors confirm the capability of the proposed methodology to assess the masonry mechanical parameters, reducing the uncertainty affecting the definition of capacity curves of walls and consequently the evaluation of seismic vulnerability of the investigated buildings.

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Experimental behavior of iron-based shape memory alloys under cyclic loading histories

Construction and Building Materials ◽

10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.121712 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 272 ◽

pp. 121712

Author(s):

Diego Isidoro Heredia Rosa ◽

Alexander Hartloper ◽

Albano de Castro e Sousa ◽

Dimitrios G. Lignos ◽

Masoud Motavalli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cyclic Loading ◽

Shape Memory Alloys ◽

Shape Memory ◽

Experimental Behavior ◽

Iron Based

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Full‐scale shake‐table tests on two unreinforced masonry cavity‐wall buildings: effect of an innovative timber retrofit

Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering ◽

10.1007/s10518-021-01057-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Marco Miglietta ◽

Nicolò Damiani ◽

Gabriele Guerrini ◽

Francesco Graziotti

Keyword(s):

Seismic Vulnerability ◽

Concrete Slab ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Unreinforced Masonry ◽

Full Scale ◽

Cavity Wall ◽

Masonry Walls ◽

Shake Table ◽

Earthquake Excitation ◽

Reinforced Concrete Slab

AbstractTwo full-scale building specimens were tested on the shake-table at the EUCENTRE Foundation laboratories in Pavia (Italy), to assess the effectiveness of an innovative timber retrofit solution, within a comprehensive research campaign on the seismic vulnerability of existing Dutch unreinforced masonry structures. The buildings represented the end-unit of a two-storey terraced house typical of the North-Eastern Netherlands, a region affected by induced seismicity over the last few decades. This building typology is particularly vulnerable to earthquake excitation due to lack of seismic details and irregular distribution of large openings in masonry walls. Both specimens were built with the same geometry. Their structural system consisted of cavity walls, with interior load-bearing calcium-silicate leaf and exterior clay veneer, and included a first-floor reinforced concrete slab, a second-floor timber framing, and a roof timber structure supported by masonry gables. A timber retrofit was designed and installed inside the second specimen, providing an innovative sustainable, light-weight, reversible, and cost-effective technique, which could be extensively applied to actual buildings. Timber frames were connected to the interior surface of the masonry walls and completed by oriented strands boards nailed to them. The second-floor timber diaphragm was stiffened and strengthened by a layer of oriented-strand boards, nailed to the existing joists and to additional blocking elements through the existing planks. These interventions resulted also in improved wall-to-diaphragm connections with the inner leaf at both floors, while steel ties were added between the cavity-wall leaves. The application of the retrofit system favored a global response of the building with increased lateral capacities of the masonry walls. This paper describes in detail the bare and retrofitted specimens, compares the experimental results obtained through similar incremental dynamic shake-table test protocols up to near-collapse conditions, and identifies damage states and damage limits associated with displacements and deformations.

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