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Overview of different strengthening techniques applied on walls used in historical structures
(2012)
Both in developed and developing countries, modern building materials tend to be preferred to traditional earthen construction. Reasons include low durability, inadequate performance under seismic loading and, in developing countries, a wish to replace what is perceived as 'poor' with what is perceived as 'rich'. In an age when building permissions and construction standards are a must, particularly in seismic areas, even when an owner is willing to build in earth, construction approval needs to be granted: we rely on values and standards to build, but the necessary data on material properties and structural performance of earthen building techniques is scarce if compared to the abundance of data for other materials (clay brick masonry, concrete, steel) available to the engineer. At the same time, traditional builders' skills, knowledge and confidence in earthen building techniques are decreasing if not disappearing. A wallette testing campaign was thus carried out with the aim of filling this knowledge gap. Prior to the wallette campaign, material properties, including composition and physical-mechanical parameters, were determined. Compression and diagonal compression (shear) tests were then performed, and a basic analysis of the mechanical behaviour of structural elements built in cob is provided in relation to earth block (adobe) masonry and rammed earth elements. Cob, shown to have low compressive resistance, has a relatively ductile post-peak behaviour if compared to earth block masonry specimens which, as expected, show a marked brittle behaviour. In terms of shear strength, cob performs relatively well in view of its low compressive strength. The study is part of our work within the framework of the ongoing project NIKER funded by the European Commission dealing with improving the structural performance of Cultural Heritage assets in order to limit earthquake hazards.
When pushed to the limits of their detection capability, NDE systems do not produce consistent hit/miss
indications. Their capability of detecting small defects is therefore expressed in terms of POD. An adequate
NDE system is required to ensure the structural integrity. In conventional signal response analysis, the POD is
expressed as a function of the defect size, and its adequacy for the inspection task is tested against the maximum
allowable defect size which will not undermine the structural integrity. Analyses of modern structures show that
other parameters, beside the defect size, can both significantly influence the POD and determine the severity of
the defect for the structure. Within the multi-parameter reliability analysis, the POD is expressed as a function of
those influencing parameters. When determining the adequacy of the NDE system, the capability of detecting a
defect has to be expressed and tested against the critical value of exactly that parameter that determines defects
severity for the structure. Failing to do so can lead to a rejection of the healthy, or acceptance of the bad part.
The principle is demonstrated on the example of the Transmit-Receive Longitudinal (TRL) ultrasonic inspection
of the iron cast component for semi-elliptical surface defects.