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Organisationseinheit der BAM
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Overview of different strengthening techniques applied on walls used in historical structures
(2012)
Characterisation of earthen elements. A comparison between earth block masonry, rammed earth and cob
(2012)
The paper investigates the dynamic characterisation, the numerical model tuning and the seismic risk assessment of two monumental masonry towers located in Italy: the Capua Cathedral bell tower and the Aversa Cathedral bell tower. Full-scale ambient vibration tests under environmental loads are performed. The modal identification is carried out using techniques of modal extraction in the frequency domain. The refined 3D finite element model (FEM) is calibrated using the in situ investigation survey. The FEM tuning is carried out by varying the mechanical parameters and accounting for the restraint offered by the neighbouring buildings and the role of soil–structure interaction. The assessment of the seismic performance of the bell towers is carried out through a nonlinear static procedure based on the multi-modal pushover analysis and the capacity spectrum method. Through the discussion of the case studies, the paper shows that the modal identification is a reliable technique that can be used in situ for assessing the dynamic behaviour of monumental buildings. By utilising the tuned FEM of the towers, the theoretical fundamental frequencies are determined, which coincide with the previously determined experimental frequencies. The results from seismic performance assessment through a pushover analysis confirm that the masonry towers in this study are particularly vulnerable to strong damage even when subjected to seismic events of moderate intensity.
The purpose of this paper is to numerically simulate the in-plane behaviour of rammed earth walls under cyclic shear-compression tests. The experimental testing allowed obtaining the maximum horizontal loads, the displacement capacity and the level of non-linear behaviour of the respective loaddisplacement relationships as well as the failure modes. The calibration of the numerical model (finite element method) was carried out based on the experimental results. Within this framework, a micromodelling approach was considered. The behaviour of the rammed earth material was simulated using a total strain rotating crack model. A Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion was used to reproduce the behaviour of the interfaces between the layers.
Although the numerical results achieved a satisfactory agreement with the experimental results a sensitivity analysis of the parameters involved was performed. The sensitivity analysis aimed at determining which parameters of the model have a significant impact in the model’s results. As expected the sensitivity analysis pointed out that the sliding failure occurrence is mainly influenced by two parameters of the interface elements: the interface tensile strength fit and the friction angle u. Moreover the cohesion c and the layers thickness showed a limited effect on the shear behaviour. It should be noted that the results mentioned above are related to the cases where a significant level of vertical compressive stress r is employed.
The study presents the results from the development of a grouting material based on hydrated lime with addition of pozzolana, which is referred to as hydraulic lime, suitable for the repair of cracks in a variety of earthen building techniques. The goal was to develop a material also compatible with earthen structures exposed to dynamic loads. The grouting mortar was designed to be adaptable in strength properties and at the same time to have sufficient robustness for preparation and use on the construction site.
Results showed a satisfactory performance of the grout concerning fresh and hardened mortar properties as well as injectability.
The paper presents an experimental program aiming at assessing the mechanical performance of rammed earth walls, namely under compression and shear loading. Axial compression and diagonal compression tests were carried out for this purpose, which allowed determining important mechanical parameters, such as compressive strength, Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio, shear strength and shear modulus. Furthermore, it allowed assessing the level of non-linear behaviour of the respective stress–strain relationships as well as the failure modes. The experimental results were then used in the calibration of numerical models (finite element method) for simulating the non-linear behaviour of rammed earth under shear loading. Both macro- and micro modelling approaches were considered for this purpose. The total strain rotating crack model was used to simulate the behaviour of the rammed earth material, while the Mohr–Coulomb failure criterion was used to simulate the behaviour of interfaces between layers. In general, the numerical models achieved good agreement with the experimental results, but uncertainties related to the definition of the input parameters required to perform a sensitivity analysis. The compressive strength, the Poisson's ratio, the tensile strength and the tensile fracture energy revealed to be the most important parameters in the analyses.
Earth represents one of the oldest construction materials, which is still utilised both in developed and in developing countries. In this paper a comparison of the mechanical performance of structural elements built in three basic techniques, earth block (adobe) masonry, rammed earth and cob, is presented. In order to gain better knowledge on the structural behaviour under static loads an extensive compression and diagonal compression (shear) test campaign was performed. First compression results showed brittle mechanical behaviour in the case of earth block masonry and rammed earth elements, whereas cob exhibited a very different stress–strain pattern: cob can deform beyond the elastic range with a gradual drop in capacity. Despite its low compressive strength, cob thus presents a relatively good performance within the earthen material range as far as shear behaviour is concerned.
The data here reported represents a base for a further investigation on the dynamic behaviour of the three materials considered. The study was carried out within the framework of the project NIKER funded by the European Commission dealing with improving immovable Cultural Heritage assets against the risk of earthquakes.
The current paper focuses on the determination of reliable numerical models of earth block masonry wallettes under different loading conditions. Uniaxial compression and diagonal compression tests were performed. Experimental behaviour was modelled with a non-linear model able to describe the cracking behaviour. The simplified approach based on macro-modelling shows a satisfactory accuracy and low computational costs. The results reproducing the uniaxial compression are in good correspondence with the post-elastic behaviour observed in the experimental campaign. The micro-modelling approach adopted to reproduce the shear behaviour, even with high computational cost, represents a suitable tool to predict the masonry collapse mechanism.
Connections improvement plays a key role in seismic upgrade of historical buildings. Their global response is related to the behavior of the single structural elements as well as to their mutual connections. Up to now only few data are available about the performance of grouted anchor pins in earthen materials where the critical point is the bond between the grout and the earthen substrate. In this paper, results of the experimental testing performed on earth block masonry, rammed earth and cob are presented. Pull-out tests were carried out to investigate the bond strength and failure modes of stainless steel rods with a lime based hydraulic grout and their compatibility with earthen materials. Rods with nuts were investigated to improve the pull-out capacity of the anchors. They showed higher pull-out capacity than rods without nuts. The performances of rods with nuts in cob were influenced by the rough surface at/of the earthen substrate. It is assumed that the non homogeneous surface caused an interlocking mechanism, which allowed to reach a pull-out capacity of about 54% higher than in earth block masonry.
The intensive use of earth as a building material since ancient times resulted in an important and significant earthen built heritage currently existing worldwide spread. The rammed earth technique has a significant presence in this heritage, where it served to build from simple dwell-ings to fortresses. However, the high vulnerability of rammed earth constructions to decay agents and to seismic events puts in risk their further existence and the lives of millions of peo-ple. With respect to the seismic behaviour of rammed earth walls, the understanding and mod-elling of their shear behaviour are topics underdeveloped in the bibliography. Nevertheless, these topics are of extreme importance in the preservation and strengthening of rammed earth constructions. Therefore, this paper presents a numerical work aiming at modelling the non-linear behaviour of unstabilised rammed earth under shear loading, resorting to the finite ele-ments method (FEM). The models were used to simulate the behaviour of a set of rammed earth wallets tested under diagonal compression. Both macro- and micro-modelling approach-es were considered, where the objective of this last approach was to evaluate the influence of apparent weakness of the interfaces between layers on the shear behaviour. The total strain ro-tating crack model (TSCRM) was used to simulate the behaviour of the rammed earth material, while the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion was used to simulate the behaviour of interfaces be-tween layers. Furthermore, uncertainties related to the definition of the input parameters re-quired performing a sensitivity analysis. The numerical models achieved good agreement with the experimental results and the compressive strength, the Poisson’s ratio, the tensile strength and the tensile fracture energy revealed to be the most important parameters in the analyses.
The main aim of the research was the development of a first valid database for material parameters of earth block masonry (EBM) with particular regard to statistical characteristics. A solid database is needed for the determination of the materials partial safety factor. Therefore, compressive strength tests were carried out with two types of earth blocks and two types of prefabricated earth mortar.
The evaluation has shown that the mean variation of the compressive strength was remarkably less than expected, which indicates high quality standards of the components earth block and mortar with regard to industrial production. Using the reliability method, a partial safety factor for EBM subjected to compression was determined on the basis of these test results. The findings have shown that a common calculation method for EBM based on partial safety factors following the valid masonry construction standard is feasible.
Connections improvement plays a key role in seismic upgrade of historical buildings. Their global response is related to the behaviour of the single structural elements as well as by their mutual connections. Up to now limited data is available on the performance of grouted anchor pins in earthen materials where the critical point is the bond between the grout and the earthen substrate.
In this paper results of the experimental testing performed on earth block masonry are presented. Pull-out tests were carried out to investigate the bond strength and failure modes of stainless steel as well as glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) rods with a lime based hydraulic grout and their compatibility with earth block masonry. GFRP rods were investigated as an alternative bonded-in anchorage material to the commonly used steel. In comparison with steel, they have a reduced weight and a reduced coefficient of thermal expansion. Their lower modulus of elasticity seems to be more compatible with the modulus of elasticity of earthen materials, although they exhibit a brittle fracture with lack of plastic phase.
In this paper an extensive research campaign aimed to define the mechanical performance of earth block masonry panels is presented. Uniaxial compression and diagonal compression tests were performed. The test results confirmed the brittle behaviour of earth block masonry under uniaxial compressive load and showed that the failure of earth block masonry under shear load occurs by sliding of the earth blocks along the mortar joints after initial cracking in mortar joints and earth blocks. For diagonal compression test results showed that building technique practice is one of the key factors affecting the structural performances. Experimental behaviour was modelled with a non-linear model capable of describing cracking behaviour. Both micro-modelling and macro-modelling implementing isotropic or orthotropic material laws were used to assess the reliability of different modelling strategies. The model calibration was carried out by sensibility analysis of the input parameters to understand the influence of unit strength on the shear behaviour of masonry.
This study analyses the mechanical behaviour under pseudo-dynamic loading of structural elements built in rammed earth and strengthened with polyester fabric strips. This strengthening technique was developed to exploit the strength potential of rammed earth and to solve its lack of tensile strength. For this reason, in-plane cyclic tests were carried out to investigate the shear behaviour of unstrengthened and strengthened walls. The strengthening technique requires low-tech equipment and workmanship, uses readily available, not expensive and industrially standardised materials. The experimental results were analysed in terms of stiffness degradation, energy dissipation capacity and equivalent viscous damping. Although the unstrengthened and strengthened walls confirmed a limited ductile behaviour, the findings confirm that the strengthening contributes to limit the spread of the diagonal cracks and provide an increase of strength in terms of horizontal load and displacement capacity.
This study assesses the structural vulnerability of part of a later medieval earthen building at
Ambel (near Zaragoza, Spain), once a preceptory or monastic house belonging to the Military
Orders. An inspection of its morphology and materials coupled with the results of an extensive
campaign of static monitoring reveals marked structural inhomogeneities, the product of more
than a thousand years of construction, failure, and repair from the 10th century to the present
day. Building materials are inappropriately juxtaposed, there are discontinuities between construction
phases and fundamental concerns remain over the long-term stability of the structure.
The current condition of the structure is mainly influenced by structural discontinuities introduced
at the time of construction, the unintended consequences of repair and modification and the
material decay that has affected the base of the rammed earth walls. The overall findings of the
static monitoring show that there is no related damage, variations in crack widths are related to
the building seasonal cycle. While static analysis is an essential prerequisite before a suitable
maintenance program can be fully defined, this study argues that no evaluation of the structural
behavior of any historic building can afford to ignore its archaeological “biography” of modification
and repair.
The aim of this paper is to implement a numerical model to reproduce the nonlinear behavior of cob walls under shear loading.
Axial compression, pull-off, and diagonal compression tests were carried out to derive the mechanical parameters. In addition, the stressstrain relationships, the nonlinear behavior, and the failure modes were defined. The experimental results were then used to calibrate a finiteelement model. The material behavior was simulated through a macromodeling approach adopting the total strain rotating crack model.
A sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess the effects of varying the parameters with higher uncertainty on the structural behavior.
The numerical model achieved good correspondence with the experimental results in terms of simulation of the shear stress–shear strain relationship and of damage pattern.
Emissions of building materials might have negative impact on human health and well-being. In the EU-funded research project H-House more than 30 natural materials (earthen dry boards and plasters, bio-based insulation materials made of wood, flax, reed, straw, etc.) used for renovation and refurbishment were tested regarding emissions of VOC, formaldehyde and radon. Different to ordinary emission tests on single materials this study focuses on the emissions from complete wall assemblies. Therefore, specially designed test chambers were used allowing the compounds to release only from the surface of the material facing indoors. The testing parameters were chosen in order to simulate model room conditions. The emission results were finally evaluated using the AgBB evaluation scheme, a procedure currently applied for the approval of flooring materials in Germany.