CALDERONI BRUNO1, CORDASCO EMILIA ANGELA2, LENZA PIETRO3, PACELLA GAETANA4

1 Associate Professor , University “Federico II”, Department of Structures for Engineering and Architecture, calderon@unina.it

2 PhD in Preservation of Architectural Heritage, Department of Structures for Engineering and Architecture, emiliaangela.cordasco@unina.it

3 Associate Professor , University “Federico II”, Department of Structures for Engineering and Architecture, lenza@unina.it

4 PhD in Preservation of Architectural Heritage, Department of Structures for Engineering and Architecture, gaetana.pacella@unina.it

In this paper the results of a new experimental campaign, carried out on H-shaped portions of masonry wall, formed by both a spandrel and part of the two adjacent piers, are presented. Some specimens (in 1:10 scale) were made of homogeneous material and others of ordinary block masonry and were tested by means of specific testing equipment. In this way the influence on spandrel behaviour of the masonry panel zone has been analyzed. The experimental program has been performed on specimens presenting three different slenderness ratios. Monotonic tests on panels made of homogeneous material and both monotonic and cyclic tests on those made of ordinary masonry have been carried out. Different failure mechanisms have been observed: horizontal sliding, diagonal cracking and toe-crushing, each corresponding to different values of ultimate shear strength. Finally, the experimental results (in terms of shear strength) have been compared with the values given by Italian code (NTC08) prescriptions.

Keywords: Masonry wall, spandrel, seismic capacity, experimental test, failure mechanism