Advanced Composites for Retrofit of Historical Masonry Structures: Dynamic Tests and Comparative Assessment

Abstract

Within the framework of project TE.M.P.E.S. two 1:2 scaled models of the typical tuff masonry buildings have been constructed and tested on the seismic simulation shaking table located in the structural laboratory of CESI, Bergamo, Italy. The two as-built prototypes were tested and damaged at increasing intensity level up to a significant damage was observed, after they were repaired by means of two different techniques based on innovative materials. According to the scaling rules, the prototypes have been constructed with plane dimensions of 2.60 m x 2.85 m; they were characterised by two stories with total height of 3.20 m. Thickness of the three-leaf walls was equal to 0.30 m. The three-leaf type of masonry is typical of many structures in Europe and in the Mediterranean area, and is locally known as “a sacco”; it is characterised by two external layers of masonry blocks (0.10 m thick) and an inner core (0.10 m thick) made of chopped tuff mixed to mortar. FIGURE 1. View of the three-leaf (“a sacco”) walls during construction and as-built prototypel shows a three-leaf wall during construction. Each of the two weak walls of the prototype were characterized by two 0.70 m x 1.20 m doors at first storey and two 0.70 m x 0.70 m windows at second storey, while the other two perpendicular walls had one 0.70 m x 0.70 m window at each storey (Fig. 1). The two wooden floors were realised by 0.10 m x 0.15 m wooden beams on which a wooden ply was nailed. For one of the two models, a 0.30 m x 0.20 m Reinforced Concrete (RC) riddle was designed at both levels in order to assure an effective connection between the four sides. This detail was not realized in the second model for which the connection of the four sides was assured by means of composite bars.