In Situ testing of the out-of-plane capacity of traditional stone masonry walls

Abstract

This paper reports on an in-situ experimental programme under development by the Laboratory for Earthquake and Structural Engineering (LESE, FEUP, Porto) on existing traditional masonry constructions hit and damaged during the 1998 Azores earthquake. The work seeks for a better understanding of traditional stone masonry wall behaviour under out-of-plane cyclic loading, by providing experimental evidence and realistic data of particular relevance for numerical modelling calibration of these elements in their original conditions. Following the same strategy adopted for another experimental activity performed in laboratory on a similar masonry wallet, this insitu programme involved a second stage for structural strengthening according to schemes similar to some of those adopted during the reconstructions process in Faial Island. Further tests were then performed in order to assess the seismic capacity improvement of the strengthened structures. Very interesting and promising results were obtained concerning both strength and energy dissipation enhancement, thus fully confirming the basic objective achievement subjacent to the adopted seismic strengthening strategy.