Earthquake resistant design of masonry structures

Specialization / Direction

Knowledge Deepening / Consolidation

Purpose: Structures made of unreinforced load-bearing masonry both in Greece, in Europe and in the Mediterranean Basin countries constitute a significant percentage of the structural fabric of relatively old structures that are often desirable to be preserved. Many times these structures are vulnerable to seismic stresses, resulting in structural damage and needing repair/reinforcement. At the same time, modern construction techniques using reinforced load-bearing structures have been developed that exhibit satisfactory seismic performance if designed in accordance with modern regulations. In this course, the specific problems arising from the seismic behaviour of this type of structures are discussed in depth. This is done initially both through the study of materials and structural elements made of load-bearing masonry and through the study of the type of failures that occur in the structural elements and the structures composed of them. The methodology and the relevant regulatory provisions for both the assessment of the seismic behaviour and the formation, analysis and dimensioning of the seismic resistance of load-bearing masonry structures are then presented. Through targeted lectures, the above is presented both for decks belonging to the category of traditional structures through appropriate repairs/reinforcements and those built with modern methods. Objectives: After successful completion of the course and in combination with his/her undergraduate education, the postgraduate student is able to understand the important parameters involved in the seismic design of structures made of unreinforced or reinforced masonry on the one hand and to study such traditional and modern structures on the other hand. Through the targeted presentations as well as through the preparation of the relevant project, the postgraduate student becomes familiar with the relevant regulatory and construction provisions concerning both traditional structures and modern structures made of load-bearing masonry. At the same time, he is interested in issues arising in the assessment and numerical simulation of the behaviour of this type of structures as well as in dealing with specific issues concerning the repair and strengthening of this type of structures. Special emphasis is given to traditional structures which are the most vulnerable to seismic actions.

1. Mechanical characteristics of masonry elements: - Mechanical characteristics of the constituent materials of masonry, namely natural stones, artificial stonework, mortar and their affinity to each other. - A list of the basic data on the materials of masonry building elements with the relevant historical background. - Laboratory and on-site arrangements for finding basic mechanical properties. - Destructive and non-destructive methods. Laboratory applications. 2. Mechanical behaviour of masonry structural elements under monotonic and cyclic loading. - Occurrence of failures and their connection with the applied load on the one hand and failure criteria on the other hand. Energy absorption mechanisms. - The importance of reinforcement and the behaviour of reinforced masonry elements under seismic cyclic loading. 3. Structural systems of load-bearing masonry structures and the transfer of vertical loads. Structural systems of masonry structures and their response to seismic actions. Transfer of seismic loads. In-plane and out-of-plane actions. 4. Construction and regulatory provisions: Unreinforced masonry. - Regulatory provisions for the design of structural elements for this type of masonry. - Construction details for unreinforced load-bearing masonry. 5. Construction and regulatory provisions: Reinforced masonry. - Regulatory provisions for the design of structural elements for this type of masonry. - Construction details for reinforced load-bearing masonry. 6. Numerical simulation of behaviour. - Structural systems. Presentation of the failures that occur when structures of this type are subjected to seismic loads. Repair-reinforcement techniques - Applications to simple masonry structural systems for the assessment of seismic behaviour. Numerical simulations. 7. Traditional load-bearing masonry structures - Structures of monumental character. - Structural systems. Presentation of the failures that occur when these types of structures are subjected to seismic loads. - Numerical simulation of behaviour - applications. 8. Traditional load-bearing masonry structures - Structures of monumental character. - Structural systems. Presentation of the failures that occur when this type of structures are subjected to seismic loads. - Repair-reinforcement techniques 9. Buildings of load-bearing masonry to be preserved. Composition of horizontal load-bearing structures: types of floors and roofs, response to vertical loads and seismic stress. 10. Retaining masonry buildings. Composition of vertical load-bearing structures: types of masonry, diaphragms, tractors, response to vertical loads and seismic stresses. 11. Presentation of the results of experimental investigation of mechanical characteristics in specimens of virgin and reinforced masonry of a listed building. 12. Special finite element program for nonlinear analysis of masonry micro-models Presentation - Applications 13. Methods and techniques for repair and strengthening of listed buildings of load-bearing masonry. Examples and Applications

05-12-2023