Article: Seismic response of plain and timber-laced masonry building models before and after interventions Journal: International Journal of Masonry Research and Innovation (IJMRI) 2022 Vol.7 No.4 pp.406 - 434 Abstract: Two two-storey stone masonry building models of the same geometry were built at 1:2 scale. In one of the models, masonry was unreinforced, while in the other, timber laces were provided at intervals along the height, as it is the case in historical structural systems in several earthquake prone areas. The models were subjected to base excitation tests on the earthquake simulator of the Laboratory for Earthquake Engineering/National Technical University of Athens (NTUA). Each building model was subjected to biaxial seismic tests with the base acceleration increasing stepwise until repairable damages occurred. Afterwards, the building models were repaired (i.e., re-pointing of mortar joints, re-fixing of failed timber connections) and strengthened by: 1) grouting of the three-leaf masonry using a natural hydraulic lime-based grout; 2) enhancing the diaphragm action of the floors and the floor-to-wall connection. Subsequently, the models were re-tested up to severe damage. This paper provides comparison of the response of the two models in their as-built and strengthened state with the purpose of documenting the beneficial effect of the selected strengthening techniques, as well as the beneficial effect of timber laces on the seismic performance of historical masonry buildings. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Seismic response of plain and timber-laced masonry building models before and after interventions

Authors: Elizabeth Vintzileou; Lucia Karapitta; Chrissy-Elpida Adami; Charalambos Mouzakis

Addresses: Faculty of Civil Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Greece ' Faculty of Civil Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Greece ' Faculty of Civil Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Greece ' Faculty of Civil Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Greece

Abstract: Two two-storey stone masonry building models of the same geometry were built at 1:2 scale. In one of the models, masonry was unreinforced, while in the other, timber laces were provided at intervals along the height, as it is the case in historical structural systems in several earthquake prone areas. The models were subjected to base excitation tests on the earthquake simulator of the Laboratory for Earthquake Engineering/National Technical University of Athens (NTUA). Each building model was subjected to biaxial seismic tests with the base acceleration increasing stepwise until repairable damages occurred. Afterwards, the building models were repaired (i.e., re-pointing of mortar joints, re-fixing of failed timber connections) and strengthened by: 1) grouting of the three-leaf masonry using a natural hydraulic lime-based grout; 2) enhancing the diaphragm action of the floors and the floor-to-wall connection. Subsequently, the models were re-tested up to severe damage. This paper provides comparison of the response of the two models in their as-built and strengthened state with the purpose of documenting the beneficial effect of the selected strengthening techniques, as well as the beneficial effect of timber laces on the seismic performance of historical masonry buildings.

Keywords: three-leaf stone masonry; timber-laced stone masonry; interventions; diaphragm action; grout injection; seismic response; seismic tests; shaking table.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMRI.2022.123738

International Journal of Masonry Research and Innovation, 2022 Vol.7 No.4, pp.406 - 434

Received: 21 Feb 2021
Accepted: 30 May 2021
Published online: 01 Jul 2022 *

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Title: Seismic response of plain and timber-laced masonry building models before and after interventions

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