Contribution to experimental tests on the seismic behaviour of masonry structural elements

The objective of this master’s thesis is to contribute to two main aspects of experimental tests on the behaviour of load-bearing masonry subjected to earthquake action carried out within the European research project SERIES.
The first part explains the general context and presents the exploitation of results of the first phase of SERIES project TA5. This first phase investigates the response of four simple unreinforced clay masonry walls, two of them including acoustic insulation devices (SonicStrip). This phase has a double objective. On one hand, the tests aim at a better understanding of the seismic behaviour of single wall in dynamic conditions. On the other hand, the comparison between walls having a same global geometry, but with and without acoustic insulation devices allows the assessment of the consequences of the presence of that type of device on the seismic behaviour.
The second part describes the design of specimens and the preliminary assessment of
the structural behaviour of the second phase of the SERIES project TA5. The design is focusing
on the investigation of the behaviour of T- and L-shaped walls, and in particular on the role of the parts of the structural elements perpendicular to the earthquake direction, and on the characterization of the frame behaviour in such masonry structures. The structural
assessment is carried out according to Eurocodes 6 and 8 and considers different loading situations that can be found in daily practice. Some preliminary information on the experimental results of the second phase of the SERIES project TA5 are finally given."