Effect of mortar joint thickness on deformability in medieval stone walls

Authors

  • M. J. Cassinello Escuela Técnica Superior Arquitectura Madrid.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3989/mc.2006.v56.i284.19

Keywords:

stone masonry, lime mortar, stability, deformability, compressive strength

Abstract


An analysis of the stone walls in Gothic cathedrals revealed that Medieval master builders varied mortar joint thicknesses from one structural member to another. This fact, which has gone largely unnoticed to date, has a considerable impact on the structural behavior of cathedrals,due to its direct effect on two fundamental parameters,deformability and strength. In the absence offield data, an experimental test program was conducted at the INTEMAC Central Laboratory to determine the possible variations in deformability of Medieval masonry with changes in joint mortar thickness in the range found in the structural members of Spanish Gothic cathedrals. The results obtained show —further to an observation by Eduardo Torroja— that mortar joints are a determinant in the structural behavior of masonry. The modulus of deformation varied from 169.7 to 5,632.7 N/mm2at joint thicknesses ranging from 17.00 to 5.50 mm. Structural models should be adapted to accommodate this behavior pattern via parametric sensitivity analysis to obtain a clearer understanding of structural behaviour in Gothic cathedrals.

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References

(1) Cassinello, M. Josefa: “Bóvedas góticas: problemática de la modelización de su realidad constructiva”. Actas del I Congreso Europeo de Restauración de Catedrales Góticas, Edición Diputación Floral de Álava Departamento de Obras Públicas y Urbanismo, 1998, pp. 389-392.

(2) INTEMAC archivo. Módulos de deformación: Torre de Pisa (2.900 a 40.400 N/mm2), Santa Sofía Estambul (200 N/mm2), Torre de Pavía (4.080 N/mm2), Duomo de Florencia (5.000 a 10.500 N/mm2).

(3) Vicat, L. J.: “Recherches sur le morteries”, Casa Goujon, Librero de sus Altezas Reales, La Duquesa de Berry, París, 1818. “Investigaciones experimentales sobre las cales de construcción, los hormigones y los morteros ordinarios”. INTEMAC. Infoprint S.A., 1999.

(4) NBE FL-90 capítulo III / UNE 41067 / Norma Europea EN 459 1-2-3 / PIET-70 Instituto Eduardo Torroja. Eurocódigo de Estructuras de Fábrica.

(5) Mark, R.: Experiments in Gothic Architecture, The Massachussets Institute of Technology, 1982.

(6) Cassinello, M. Josefa: “Racionalidad sísmica de la Arquitectura Ojival / Tipos estructurales y constructivos”, Actas del Cuarto Congreso Nacional de Historia de la Construcción, Instituto Juan de Herrera. Sociedad Española de Historia de la Construcción, Colegio de Arquitectos de Cádiz, Cádiz, 2005, pp. 249-258.

(7) Torroja, E.: “Razón y Ser de los tipos estructurales”, CSIC Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Instituto de Ciencias de la Construcción Eduardo Torroja, 2004.

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Published

2006-12-30

How to Cite

Cassinello, M. J. (2006). Effect of mortar joint thickness on deformability in medieval stone walls. Materiales De Construcción, 56(284), 69–80. https://doi.org/10.3989/mc.2006.v56.i284.19

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Section

Research Articles