Civil Engineering Departmental Seminar - Stone masonry structures -  used for centuries but how well can we predict their seismic response?

Stone masonry structures -  used for centuries but how well can we predict their seismic response?

In Europe, stone masonry structures are a heritage of the past while in many regions around the world stone is used as a cheap and readily available construction material for informal constructions. In addition, stone could also be of interest for new, engineered and sustainable structures of few stories. However, stone masonry structures are typically very vulnerable to seismic forces and often responsible for a large ratio of the death toll in an earthquake. It is therefore crucial to understand what: What are the factors that influence the seismic response of stone masonry buildings and how well can we actually predict their seismic response? 

This presentation will cover recent and ongoing research conducted at the Earthquake Engineering and Structural Dynamics Laboratory at EPFL. The work spans multiple scales, from experimental studies on wall-mortar interactions at the material level to the performance of entire masonry buildings under seismic conditions. It discussed key structural features that influence the seismic response of stone masonry structure and the current state of our ability to predict the seismic response of masonry structures as well as open challenges.