Skip to main content
Log in

Mechanical characterisation of Tuscany masonry typologies by in situ tests

  • Original Research
  • Published:
Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The paper reports the results of 105 in situ tests performed on undamaged masonry panels carried out by the authors during the last 20 years. The panels, mostly stone and brickwork masonry, were selected in 59 buildings in Tuscany (Italy) and had different texture and section typologies. The tests, aimed to evaluate both shear strength and deformability parameters, included 50 diagonal tests and 55 flat-jack tests. Main results of tests are supported by a qualitative description of the masonry textures. As a general result, a good agreement was found between the experimental shear strength and the range of values provided by the Italian Building Code. On the contrary, significant differences were obtained with respect to the longitudinal and the shear modules of elasticity. This is probably due to the high sensibility of these values to the method used to treat the data records. The results here presented, together with further data on the subject, are included in a web page named “Tuscany Masonry DataBase”. The database constitutes an effective set of experimental results that can be employed to extract reference values (both quality and mechanical properties) for masonry typologies at local level.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • ASTM C 1197-14 (2014) Standard test method for in situ measurement of masonry deformability properties using the flat-jack method

  • ASTM E 519–07 (2007) Standard test method for diagonal tension (Shear) in masonry assemblages. West Conshohocken, ASTM International

    Google Scholar 

  • Betti M, Galano L, Vignoli A (2008) Seismic response of masonry plane walls: a numerical study on spandrel strength. AIP Conf Proc 1020(1):787–794

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Betti M, Galano L, Vignoli A (2014) Comparative analysis on the seismic behaviour of unreinforced masonry buildings with flexible diaphragms. Eng Struct 61:195–208

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Betti M, Galano L, Petracchi M, Vignoli A (2015) Diagonal cracking shear strength of unreinforced masonry panels: a correction proposal of the b shape factor. Bull Earthq Eng 13:3151–3186

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Betti M, Borghini A, Boschi S, Ciavattone A, Vignoli A (2017) Comparative seismic risk assessment of basilica type churches. J Earthquake Eng. https://doi.org/10.1080/13632469.2017.1309602

    Google Scholar 

  • Binda L, Saisi A, Tiraboschi C (2000) Investigation procedures for the diagnosis of historic masonries. J Constr Build Mater 14:199–233

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Binda L, Borri A, Cardani G, Doglioni F (2009) Scheda qualità muraria: relazione finale e linee guida per la compilazione della scheda di valutazione della qualità muraria. Report progetto ReLUIS 2005–2008 (in Italian)

  • Borri A, Castori G, Corradi M, Speranzini E (2011) Shear behavior of unreinforced and reinforced masonry panels subjected to in situ diagonal compression tests. Constr Build Mater 25(12):4403–4414

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Borri A, Castori G, Corradi M (2015a) Determination of shear strength of masonry panels through different tests. Int J Archit Herit 9(8):913–927

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Borri A, Corradi M, Castori G, De Maria A (2015b) A method for the analysis and classification of historic masonry. Bull Earthq Eng 13:2647–2665

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boschi S, Bernardini C, Borghini A, Ciavattone A, Del Monte E, Giordano S, Signorini N, Vignoli A (2016) Mechanical characterisation of particular masonry panels in Tuscany. In: XVI International brick and block masonry conference 27–29 Giugno 2016, pp. 1447–1455. ISBN: 978-1-138-02999-6

  • Brignola A, Frumento S, Lagomarsino S, Podestà S (2008) Identification of shear parameters of masonry panels through the in situ diagonal compression test. Int J Archit Herit 3(1):52–73. https://doi.org/10.1080/15583050802138634

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Calderini C, Cattari S, Lagomarsino S (2010) The use of the diagonal compression test to identify the shear mechanical parameters of masonry. Constr Build Mater 24:677–685

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cescatti E, Dalla Benetta M, Modena C, Casarin F (2016) Analysis and evaluations of flat-jack test on a wide existing masonry buildings sample. In: XVI international brick and block masonry conference. ISBN: 978-1-138-02999-6

  • Cescatti E, Taffarel S, Leggio A, Da Porto F, Modena C (2017) Macroscale damage assessment of URM churches after the 2016 earthquake sequence in Centre of Italy. In: Proceedings of XVII ANIDIS conference. ISBN: 978-886741-8541

  • Chiostrini S, Vignoli A (1992) An experimental research program on the behavior of stone masonry structures. J Test Eval 20(3):190–206

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chiostrini S, Vignoli A (1993) In-situ determination of the strength properties of masonry walls by destructive shear and compression tests. Masonry Int 7(3):87–96

    Google Scholar 

  • Corradi M, Borri A (2017) A database of the structural behavior of masonry in shear. Bull Earthquake Eng (2018) 16:3905. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-018-0328-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D’Ayala DF, Paganoni S (2011) Assessment and analysis of damage in L’Aquila historic city centre after 6th April 2009. Bull Earthq Eng 9(1):81–104

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D’Ayala D, Speranza E (2003) Definition of collapse mechanisms and seismic vulnerability of historic masonry buildings. Earthq Spectra 19(3):479–509

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dall’Asta A, Leoni G, Meschini A, Petrucci E, Zona A (2018) Integrated approach for seismic vulnerability analysis of historic massive defensive structures. J Cult Herit. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.culher.2018.07.004

    Google Scholar 

  • Del Monte E, Vignoli A (2008) In situ mechanical characterization of the mortar in masonry buildings with DRMS. In: 1st international RILEM symposium on site assessment of concrete, masonry and timber structures, Varenna, Italy, 1–2 September 2008, pp 421–430

  • Magenes G, Penna A, Galasco A, Rota M (2010) Experimental characterization of stone masonry mechanical properties. In: Proceeding of the 8th international masonry conference, Dresden, Germany

  • Milani G, Valente M (2015) Failure analysis of seven masonry churches severely damaged during the 2012 Emilia-Romagna (Italy) earthquake: non-linear dynamic analyses vs conventional static approaches. Eng Fail Anal 54:13–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engfailanal.2015.03.016

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MIT 2009 (2009) Circolare n. 617 del 2 febbraio 2009. Istruzioni per l’Applicazione Nuove Norme Tecniche Costruzioni di cui al Decreto Ministeriale 14 gennaio 2008, (in Italian)

  • Morandi P, Magenes G, Albanesi L (2012) Mechanical characterization of different typologies of masonry made with thin shell/web clay units. In: Proceeding of the 12th Canadian masonry symposium

  • NTC 2008 (2008) D.M. del Ministero delle Infrastrutture e dei Trasporti del 14/01/2008. Nuove Norme Tecniche per le Costruzioni. G.U. n. 29 del 04.02.2008, S.O. n. 30, (in Italian)

  • NTC 2018 (2018) D.M. del Ministero delle Infrastrutture e dei Trasporti del 17/01/2018. Aggiornamento delle “Norme Tecniche per le Costruzioni”. G.U. n. 42 del 20 febbraio 2018, (in Italian)

  • Penna A, Morandi P, Rota M, Manzini CF, Da Porto F, Magenes G (2014) Performance of masonry buildings during the Emilia 2012 earthquake. Bull Earthq Eng 12(5):2255–2273

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ReLUIS (2009) Linea di Ricerca 1 - Valutazione e riduzione della vulnerabilità di edifici in muratura - Sub Task 3b3 - Indagini diagnostiche su tipologie murarie, (in Italian)

  • RILEM TC (1994) 76-LUM Diagonal tensile strength tests of small wall specimens, In RILEM, recommendations for the Testing and Use of Constructions Materials. London: E&FN SPON, 488–489

  • Rilem TC (2004) In situ stress-strain behaviour tests based on the flat jack. Mater Struct 37:497–501

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rossi PP (1982) Analysis of mechanical characteristics of brick masonry tested by means of in situ tests. In: 6th IBMaC, Rome, Italy

  • Silva B, Dalla Benetta M, da Porto F, Modena C (2014) Experimental assessment of in-plane behaviour of three-leaf stone masonry walls. Constr Build Mater 53:149–161

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turnšek V, Sheppard PF (1980) The shear and flexural resistance of masonry walls. In: Proceedings of the research conference on earthquake Eng., Skopje

  • Vicente R, Ferreira TM, Mendes da Silva JAR, Varum H (2015) In situ flat-jack testing of traditional masonry walls: case study of the old city center of Coimbra, Portugal. Int J Archit Herit 9(7):794–810

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vignoli A, Corradi M, Borri A (2003) Experimental study on the determination of strength of masonry walls. Constr Build Mater 17:325–337

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vignoli A, Boschi S, Modena C, Cescatti E (2016) In-situ mechanical characterization of existing masonry typologies: a research project in Italy finalized to update the structural codes. In: Proceedings of XVI international brick and block masonry conference 27–29 Giugno 2016, Padova, Italia, pp. 1983–1991. ISBN: 978-1-138-02999-6

Download references

Acknowledgements

This project was supported by the Tuscany Region and by the ReLUIS 2014-16 research program on masonry buildings. Authors thank the Universities of Tuscany, all the private Societies and the persons who took part in the research.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sonia Boschi.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Boschi, S., Galano, L. & Vignoli, A. Mechanical characterisation of Tuscany masonry typologies by in situ tests. Bull Earthquake Eng 17, 413–438 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-018-0451-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-018-0451-4

Keywords

Navigation