Title: Diagonal compression tests on stone masonry panels: experimental results and analytical interpretations

Authors: Chiara Calderini; Stefania Degli Abbati

Addresses: Department of Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Genoa, Via Montallegro 1, 16145 Genova, Italy ' Department of Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Genoa, Via Montallegro 1, 16145 Genova, Italy

Abstract: The models available in literature and codes for the strength evaluation of masonry piers subjected to in-plane lateral forces may provide very different predictions depending on the degree of anisotropy of the examined type of masonry; furthermore, the experimental evaluation of the parameters required by them may pose some problems, especially in those masonries (as the historical ones) in which mortar joints are not regularly arranged. The paper presents the results of a set of diagonal compression tests on irregular stone masonry panels with different levels of lateral pre-compression. The test campaign allowed to provide experimental data on the mechanical behaviour of traditional masonry made by rubble stones and air lime mortar; we found very low values of diagonal compressive strength. Afterwards, we interpreted these results referring to two widely accepted literature models. This way, it was possible to obtain further mechanical parameters (diagonal tensile strength, cohesion and friction coefficient) of the masonry and to discuss the applicability and reliability of these latter models.

Keywords: diagonal compression tests; masonry parameters; rubble stone masonry; shear behaviour; stone masonry panels; masonry piers; lateral forces; irregular panels; air lime mortar; diagonal tensile strength; cohesion coefficient; friction coefficient.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMRI.2016.080429

International Journal of Masonry Research and Innovation, 2016 Vol.1 No.3, pp.223 - 240

Received: 30 Sep 2015
Accepted: 31 Mar 2016

Published online: 22 Nov 2016 *

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