RINALDIN, GIOVANNI1, AMADIO, CLAUDIO2, GATTESCO, NATALINO3

1 PhD, University of Trieste, Department of Engineering and Architecture, grinaldin@units.it

2 Professor, University of Trieste, Department of Engineering and Architecture, amadio@units.it

3 Associate Professor, University of Trieste, Department of Engineering and Architecture, gattesco@units.it

The mechanical behaviour of unreinforced and reinforced masonry spandrels is studied, using the results of several experimental tests carried out on H-shaped full-scale specimens. In particular, four unreinforced masonry specimens in different configurations, were built by varying the masonry material (bricks and stones) and lintel supports (wooden lintel, masonry arch) are considered. Each specimen was then reinforced with different strengthening techniques (tensioned bars, steel profiles and CFRP strips) and re-tested. The mechanical behaviour of the spandrel involves typically two types of failure: shear and flexural collapse. Starting from the experimental behaviour of the tested specimens, a numerical model able to predict the cyclic response of a spandrel subjected to seismic loading is presented and validated with the experimental results. The numerical model allows one to evaluate the energy dissipation that occurs in a masonry spandrel during a quasi-static cyclic test or a dynamic analysis.

Keywords: FE modelling, masonry spandrel, cyclic behaviour, seismic design, wooden lintel, CFRP strips