Hybrid journal (It can contain Open Access articles) ISSN (Print) 2056-9459 - ISSN (Online) 2056-9467 Published by Inderscience Publishers[450 journals]
Authors:Marco Valente, Giuseppe Brandonisio, Gabriele Milani, Antonello De Luca Pages: 1 - 46 Abstract: This paper investigates the seismic response of ten tuff masonry churches with basilica plan, which are located in Southern Italy, through advanced numerical simulations. The comparative study highlights considerable analogies and differences in the seismic response of the various churches in terms of damage distribution, energy density dissipated by tensile damage and maximum normalised displacements. The extensive set of numerical simulations performed shows that the geometrical characteristics of the different macro-elements are the main parameters influencing the seismic performance of the churches. A fundamental role is also played by the interactions of the different macro-elements with the adjacent structural parts. Recurrent damage concentrations and relevant out-of-plane deformations are observed for the most vulnerable macro-elements. The results obtained in this work, considering a representative sample of case studies, can be used to draw general conclusions about the seismic vulnerability of masonry churches with basilica plan at a territorial scale. Keywords: masonry church; 3D FE model; macro-element; seismic response; damage distribution Citation: International Journal of Masonry Research and Innovation, Vol. 5, No. 1 (2020) pp. 1 - 46 PubDate: 2020-02-04T23:20:50-05:00 DOI: 10.1504/IJMRI.2020.104849 Issue No:Vol. 5, No. 1 (2020)
Authors:Milon Howlader, Mark Masia, Michael Griffith Pages: 47 - 66 Abstract: The present study was conducted to investigate the global and local in-plane response of perforated URM walls under earthquake loading, based on observations of damage from previous earthquakes. To do so, full-scale cyclic in-plane testing of URM walls with an arched opening which were designed to represent walls in heritage URM structures in Australia was performed. The study investigated the behaviour of both pier and spandrel elements within the walls. Emphasis was also given to the position of walls within a multi-storey building by varying the pre-compression loads (representing gravity loads) on the walls. The tested walls were then simulated using nonlinear finite element analyses (FEA) where simplified micro-modelling (crack-shear-crush) approaches were used to analyse the wall behaviour. Finally, the shear capacities and the failure modes of the walls obtained from the experimental tests and FE analyses were compared to the proposed New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering (NZSEE) predictions. Keywords: unreinforced masonry; URM; in-plane shear behaviour; cyclic testing; finite element analyses; FEA; NZSEE Citation: International Journal of Masonry Research and Innovation, Vol. 5, No. 1 (2020) pp. 47 - 66 PubDate: 2020-02-04T23:20:50-05:00 DOI: 10.1504/IJMRI.2020.104845 Issue No:Vol. 5, No. 1 (2020)
Authors:Marco Zucca, Pietro Giuseppe Crespi, Nicola Longarini, Manuela Alessandra Scamardo Pages: 67 - 84 Abstract: In the seismic retrofitting of historical churches, the realisation of new foundations of collapsed elements represents an important aspect for the interaction with both the underground pre-existing structures and the new structural elements to be rebuilt. For the specific case study of the Basilica di Collemaggio, after an accurate geometrical survey and onsite geotechnical tests, a specific mixed structure foundation system is proposed in order to fulfil the seismicsafety requirements and the Cultural Heritage Office's conservation prescriptions. Nonlinear analyses are performed considering the interaction between the soil and the foundation system, together with the new couple of main pillars and the triumphal arch. The analyses are aimed to verify the capabilities of the new foundation system to bear the transversal seismic actions. The analyses are also completed by some experimental tests on micropiles, which represent the main underground-to-elevation connection elements. Keywords: foundation system; historical building; masonry church; seismic retrofitting; finite element analysis Citation: International Journal of Masonry Research and Innovation, Vol. 5, No. 1 (2020) pp. 67 - 84 PubDate: 2020-02-04T23:20:50-05:00 DOI: 10.1504/IJMRI.2020.104846 Issue No:Vol. 5, No. 1 (2020)
Authors:Margarida Nunes, Rita Bento, Mário Lopes Pages: 85 - 120 Abstract: The seismic vulnerability of URM buildings is strongly influenced by the strength and stiffness of timber floors. In this work, a steel strengthening solution is proposed to improve the in-plane stiffness of timber floors. The solution consists of placing underneath the wooden floors a steel grid of thin plates and angles at the perimeter to connect to the walls of the existing building. The connections between steel elements were done with screws. The strengthening solution proposed was numerically modelled in SAP 2000 and experimentally checked. A cyclic shear test was carried out on a real scale timber floor strengthened with the steel structure proposed. This test allowed the evaluation of the failure mode, force-displacement diagrams, and of various behavioural parameters such as floor resistance and in-plane stiffness. The experimental cyclic test showed that the strengthened timber floor considerably increased the floor resistance and in-plane stiffness. A proposal to model the stiffening solution is offered. Keywords: horizontal diaphragms; timber floor; experimental test; in-plane stiffness; retrofit of URM buildings Citation: International Journal of Masonry Research and Innovation, Vol. 5, No. 1 (2020) pp. 85 - 120 PubDate: 2020-02-04T23:20:50-05:00 DOI: 10.1504/IJMRI.2020.104847 Issue No:Vol. 5, No. 1 (2020)
Authors:Anastasios Drougkas, Leidy Bejarano-Urrego, Nathalie Van Roy, Els Verstrynge Pages: 121 - 141 Abstract: The amount of detailed experimental data on the mechanical properties of brick masonry in the literature is limited regarding the orthotropic strength and fracture energy. A combined experimental/numerical methodology is proposed for the derivation of the macro scale properties of masonry. The experimental aspect deals with the mechanical characterisation of the individual materials, small masonry samples and masonry wallettes, including the relation of couplet to wallette strength. The numerical aspect is the calculation of the macroscopic properties of the masonry through discrete cracking calculations in two orthogonal directions. The numerical analysis results are compared with the experimental stress-strain results and Digital Image Correlation analysis. The Young's modulus and compressive fracture energy for the masonry composite are derived. The results are analysed in view of the resulting anisotropy of masonry and the obtained failure modes. Keywords: numerical analysis; masonry; discrete cracking; meso-modelling; macro-modelling Citation: International Journal of Masonry Research and Innovation, Vol. 5, No. 1 (2020) pp. 121 - 141 PubDate: 2020-02-04T23:20:50-05:00 DOI: 10.1504/IJMRI.2020.104848 Issue No:Vol. 5, No. 1 (2020)
Authors:Stefano Bennati, Danila Aita, Riccardo Barsotti, Gabriella Caroti, Giuseppe Chellini, Andrea Piemonte, Francesco Barsi, Caterina Traverso Pages: 142 - 165 Abstract: The present contribution illustrates the results obtained to date on an ongoing research study of the mechanical response and load capacity of the dome of Pisa Cathedral. A well-known feature of structural modelling is that it requires reliable data on the actual shape and material properties of the structure in question. Moreover, a comprehensive account of relevant historical and architectural aspects is needed as well. Hence, the starting point of our research work consisted of high-density, precision surveys. Both range-based (laser scanning) and image-based (3D photogrammetry) survey methodologies have been used to obtain different structural models. Furthermore, a set of experimental tests has been performed to evaluate the constituent masonry's properties. From the mechanical point of view, the research has focused mainly on structural analysis of the dome subject to vertical dead loads. The dome's mechanical behaviour is described by means of both analytical and numerical analyses. The results obtained via these different methods are discussed. Keywords: dome; structural analysis; limit analysis; FEM; laser scanning; photogrammetry Citation: International Journal of Masonry Research and Innovation, Vol. 5, No. 1 (2020) pp. 142 - 165 PubDate: 2020-02-04T23:20:50-05:00 DOI: 10.1504/IJMRI.2020.104850 Issue No:Vol. 5, No. 1 (2020)
Hybrid journal (It can contain Open Access articles)
[450 journals]
