Assessment of Masonry Compressive Strength in Existing Structures Using a Bayesian Method
Publication: ASCE-ASME Journal of Risk and Uncertainty in Engineering Systems, Part A: Civil Engineering
Volume 7, Issue 1
Abstract
In comparison to contemporary masonry structures, the material properties of existing masonry often show very high variability. Furthermore, the limited number of material tests in the assessment of existing structures introduces statistical uncertainties, which have to be adequately considered. The safety formats for the design of new masonry structures may therefore be inappropriate. To fill this gap, a method for determining characteristic values and partial safety factors for the compressive strength of existing masonry is developed. First, testing data regarding unit and mortar strength from the solid clay brick masonry of 72 existing buildings is evaluated in order to model prior distributions for the typical variance of unit and mortar strength. Second, the model for estimating masonry compressive strength based on unit and mortar strength according to Eurocode 6 is analyzed, and the corresponding model uncertainty is quantified. Finally, the proposed method is presented. The influence of prior information is demonstrated, and diagrams are provided, which enable a practice-oriented way of determining characteristic values and partial safety factors for a specific building.
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Data Availability Statement
All data, models, and code generated or used during the study appear in the published article.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank Jonny Henkel of AK Bauwerksdiagnostik in 16356 Ahrensfelde, Germany, for providing data regarding material tests on existing masonry as well as for interesting discussions on the topic. Financial support from the Zukunft Bau program of the German Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development is gratefully acknowledged.
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Published In
ASCE-ASME Journal of Risk and Uncertainty in Engineering Systems, Part A: Civil Engineering
Volume 7 • Issue 1 • March 2021
Copyright
© 2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jul 3, 2020
Accepted: Oct 6, 2020
Published online: Dec 16, 2020
Published in print: Mar 1, 2021
Discussion open until: May 16, 2021
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