Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Experimental testing, numerical modelling and seismic strengthening of traditional stone masonry: comprehensive study of a real Azorian pier

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

Abstract

Stone masonry is one of the oldest building techniques used worldwide and it is known to exhibit poor behaviour under seismic excitations. In this context, this work aims at assessing the in-plane behaviour of an existing double-leaf stone masonry pier by experimental testing. Additionally, a detailed 3D finite element numerical analysis based on micro-modelling of the original pier is presented (fully describing the geometry and division of each individual elements, namely infill, blocks and joints) aiming at simulating the experimental test results. This numerical strategy can be seen as an alternative way of analysing this type of constructions, particularly useful for laboratory studies, and suitable for the calibration of simplified numerical models. As part of a wider research activity, this work is further complemented with the presentation of an effective retrofit/strengthening technique (reinforced connected plaster) to achieve a significant improvement of its in-plane cyclic response which is experimentally verified in the results presented herein.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abrams D (1996) Effects of scale and loading rate with tests of concrete and masonry structures. Earthq Spectr 12(1):13–28. http://dx.doi.org/10.1193/1.1585866

  • Almeida C (2000) Análise do Comportamento da Igreja do Mosteiro da Serra do pilar sob a Acção dos Sismos. MSc Dissertation. Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto. Available via NCREP/FEUP. http://ncrep.fe.up.pt/

  • Arêde A (2008) In situ testing of the out-of-plane capacity of traditional stone masonry walls. International Seminar on Seismic Risk and Rehabilitation, Faial, Azores, Portugal

    Google Scholar 

  • Arêde A, Costa A, Costa AA, Oliveira CS, Neves F (2008) Experimental in-situ testing of typical masonry constructions of Faial Island—Azores. In: 14th world conference on earthquake engineering. Beijing, China

  • Betti M, Vignoli A (2008) Modelling and analysis of a romanesque church under earthquake loading: assessment of seismic resistance. Eng Struct 30:352–367. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2007.03.027

    Google Scholar 

  • Casolo S, Peña F (2007) Rigid element model for in-plane dynamics of masonry walls considering hysteretic behaviour and damage. Earthq Eng Struct Dyn 36:1029–1048. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/eqe.670

  • Cavicchi A, Gambarotta L (2005) Collapse analysis of masonry bridges taking into account arch-infill interaction. Eng Struct 27:605–615. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2004.12.002

    Google Scholar 

  • CEA (2003) Manuel dútilisation de Cast3 m, Saclay: Commissariat à l’Énergie Atomique. Available via CEA. http://www.cast3m.cea.fr

  • CEN (2005) Eurocode 8: design of structures for earthquake resistance, part 1: general rules, seismic actions and rules for buildings. Brussels, Belgium

  • Corradi M, Tedeschi C, Binda L, Borri A (2008) Experimental evaluation of shear and compression strength of masonry wall before and after reinforcement: deep repointing. Constr Bldg Mat 22:463–472. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2006.11.021

  • Costa A (2002) Determination of mechanical properties of traditional masonry walls in dwellings of Faial Island. Azores Earthq Eng Struct Dyn 37:1361–1382. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/eqe.167

  • Costa A, Arêde A (2006) Strengthening of structures damaged by the Azores earthquake of 1998. Constr Bldg Mat 20:252–268. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2005.08.029

  • Costa AA (2007) Experimental testing of lateral capacity of masonry piers. An application to seismic assessment of AAC masonry buildings 2007. MSc Dissertation. European school for advanced studies in reduction of seismic risk (ROSE School)

  • Cundall PA (1988) Formulation of a three-dimensional distinct element model—part I: a scheme to detect and represent contacts in a system composed of many polyhedral blocks. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 25:107–116. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0148-9062(88)92293-0

  • Drucker DC, Prager W (1952) Soil mechanics and plastic analysis or limit design. Quart Appl Math 10: 157–165

    Google Scholar 

  • Duchesne A, Raepsaet X (1997) Un modèle Élasto-plastique de CASTEM 2000 utilisable pour la modélisation du comportement mécanique d’Un lit de particules. JRC, Ispra

    Google Scholar 

  • Gambarotta L, Lagomarsino S (1996) On dynamic response of masonry panels. In: National conference “Masonry Mechanics Between Theory and Pratice”. Messina, Italy

  • Gambarotta L, Lagomarsino S (1997) Damage models for the seismic response of brick masonry shear walls. Part II: the continuum model and its applications. Earthq Eng Struct Dyn 26:441–463. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1096-9845(199704)26:4<441::AID-EQE651>3.0.CO;2-0

  • INE (2002) Censos 2001. Lisboa

  • Juhásová E, Sofronie R, Bairrão R (2007) Stone masonry in historical buildings—ways to increase their resistance and durability. Eng Struct 30:2194–2205. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2007.07.008

    Google Scholar 

  • Lemos JV (2007) Discrete element modeling of masonry structures. Int J Arch Herit 1(2):190–213. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15583050601176868

    Google Scholar 

  • Lourenço PB (1996) Computational strategies for masonry structures. PhD Dissertation. Delft University of Technology

  • Magenes G, Della Fontana A (1998) Simplified non-linear seismic analysis of masonry buildings. In: 5th international masonry conference. London

  • Magenes G., Galasco A., Penna A (2009) Caratterizzazione meccanica di una muratura in pietra. In: ANIDIS 2009—XIII convegno di ingegneria sismica in Italia. Bologna, Italy

  • Milani G, Lourenço PB, Tralli A (2006) Homogenization approach for the limit analysis of out-of-plane loaded masonry walls. Struct Eng 132(10):1650–1663. http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9445(2006)132:10(1650)

    Google Scholar 

  • Neves F, Vicente RS, Costa A, Oliveira CS (2008) Seismic vulnerability assessment of the buildings in Faial Island, Azores. International seminar on seismic risk and rehabilitation, Faial, Azores, Portugal

  • Oliveira CS, Malheiro AM (1999) The Faial, Pico, São Jorge Azores Earthquake of July 9, 1998. LNEC, Lisbon

  • OPCM no. 3274 (2005) Primi elementi in materiali di criteri generali per la classificazione sismica del territorio nazionale e di normative tecniche per le costruzioni in zona sísmica, come modificato dall’OPCM 3431 del 3/5/05

  • Page AW (1978) Finite element model for masonry. J Struct Div (ASCE) 104(88): 1267–1285

    Google Scholar 

  • Paulson TJ, Abrams DP (1990) Correlation between static and dynamic response of model masonry structures. Earthq Spectra 6(3):573–592. http://dx.doi.org/10.1193/1.1585587

  • Penazzi D, Valluzzi MR, Saisi A, Binda L, Modena C (2001) Repair and strengthening of historic masonry buildings in seismic areas. In: Archi 2000. Paris, France, ICOMOS

  • Pegon P, Pinto AV (1996) Seismic study of monumental structures—structural analysis, modelling and definition of experimental model. JRC, Ispra

    Google Scholar 

  • Sorrentino L, Kunnath S, Monti G, Scalora G (2008) Seismically induced one-sided rocking response of unreinforced masonry façades. Eng Struct 30:2140–2153. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2007.02.021

    Google Scholar 

  • Valluzzi MR, da Porto F, Modena C (2001) Behaviour of multi-leaf stone masonry walls strengthened by different intervention techniques. In: Structural analysis of historical constructions. Guimarães, Portugal

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, s/n, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal

    Alexandre A. Costa, António Arêde, João Guedes & Bruno Silva

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810–193, Aveiro, Portugal

    Aníbal Costa

Authors
  1. Alexandre A. Costa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. António Arêde
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Aníbal Costa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. João Guedes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Bruno Silva
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alexandre A. Costa.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Costa, A.A., Arêde, A., Costa, A. et al. Experimental testing, numerical modelling and seismic strengthening of traditional stone masonry: comprehensive study of a real Azorian pier. Bull Earthquake Eng 10, 135–159 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-010-9209-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-010-9209-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation