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Experimental characterisation of flexural bond behaviour in brick masonry

Gaggero, M.B. (author), Esposito, R. (author)

The brick-to-mortar bond often represents the weakest link leading to cracking and failure of masonry structures. For this reason, the in-situ characterization of masonry’s flexural bond behaviour (here defined as flexural bond strength and flexural bond fracture energy), is essential for the assessment of existing buildings. Among masonry...

journal article 2023

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Comparative numerical study to simulate masonry with bed joint reinforced repointing

Ho Lee, Ka (author), Mehrotra, A.A. (author), Esposito, R. (author)

Bed joint reinforced repointing is a retrofitting technique for unreinforced masonry structures that is commonly applied in the Netherlands to repair settlement-induced damage. Using this technique, the bed joints of masonry walls are reinforced with steel rebars that are embedded in a high strength repair mortar. Due to the increase of...

journal article 2023

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SpaTiaL: monitoring and planning of robotic tasks using spatio-temporal logic specifications

Pek, Christian (author), Schuppe, Georg Friedrich (author), Esposito, Francesco (author), Tumova, Jana (author), Kragic, Danica (author)

Many tasks require robots to manipulate objects while satisfying a complex interplay of spatial and temporal constraints. For instance, a table setting robot first needs to place a mug and then fill it with coffee, while satisfying spatial relations such as forks need to placed left of plates. We propose the spatio-temporal framework SpaTiaL...

journal article 2023

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A strategy for material characterisation of multi-wythe masonry Infrastructure: Preliminary study

Li, X. (author), Esposito, R. (author)

The present work aims at providing insights on the material characterization of multi-wythe masonry infrastructure, in particular exploring a through-thickness effect of mechanical properties and benchmarking the core testing as an efficient slightly-destructive testing method. An experimental campaign was carried out to characterize shear,...

journal article 2023

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In-Plane Behaviour of Unreinforced Masonry Strengthened with a Structural Glass Window: A Proof of Concept

Gaggero, M.B. (author), Korswagen, Paul A. (author), Esposito, R. (author), Rots, J.G. (author)

Innovative solutions for seismic-retrofitting existing structures are currently required, as often traditional strategies are expensive, non-reversible, highly invasive, and/or fail to address both serviceability and ultimate limit states together. The present paper describes a preliminary experimental campaign performed at TU Delft to...

journal article 2023

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Critical analysis on the use of the shove test for investigating the shear-sliding behavior of brick masonry

Ferretti, Francesca (author), Jafari, S. (author), Esposito, R. (author), Rots, J.G. (author), Mazzotti, Claudio (author)

The shove test (ASTM Standard C1531) is an experimental technique aimed at studying the shear-sliding behavior of brick masonry. It can be executed according to various testing methods that differ in the way the vertical compression load is applied and in the way bricks and/or joints are locally removed for inserting jacks. One of the most...

journal article 2022

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A correlation study to support material characterisation of typical Dutch masonry structures

Jafari, S. (author), Rots, J.G. (author), Esposito, R. (author)

To date, several different structural representations of masonry are available for use in the numerical and analytical assessment methods, each calling for a distinct level of refinement regarding the material input. To determine material properties, in terms of strength, stiffness, and toughness under compression, bending, and shear loading,...

journal article 2022

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An improved mean-field homogenization model for the three-dimensional elastic properties of masonry

Zhou, Y. (author), Sluys, Lambertus J. (author), Esposito, R. (author)

Accurate assessment of the overall mechanical behavior of masonry, composed of bricks and mortar joints, remains challenging due to its inhomogeneous and orthotropic nature. In this study, the feasibility of various mean-field homogenization schemes for the three-dimensional orthotropic elastic properties of masonry is comprehensively...

journal article 2022

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Influence of openings on two-way bending capacity of unreinforced masonry walls

Chang, L. (author), Rots, J.G. (author), Esposito, R. (author)

Perforated unreinforced masonry (URM) walls in out-of-plane (OOP) two-way bending are commonly encountered in natural hazard investigations. However, related research is rather limited. This study focuses on the influence of openings on the two-way bending capacity of URM walls. An experimental database about the perforated URM walls in OOP...

journal article 2022

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A global synthesis of the effectiveness of sedimentation-enhancing strategies for river deltas and estuaries

Cox, Jana R. (author), Paauw, Mandy (author), Nienhuis, Jaap H. (author), Dunn, Frances E. (author), van der Deijl, Eveline (author), Esposito, Christopher (author), Goichot, Marc (author), Leuven, Jasper R.F.W. (author), van Maren, D.S. (author)

Deltas worldwide are at risk of elevation loss and drowning due to relative sea-level rise. Management strategies to restore or enhance sedimentation on delta plains, Sedimentation-Enhancing Strategies (hereafter SES), are now being pursued in many deltas but there has been limited cross-disciplinary and cross-delta review. Here we compare 21...

journal article 2022

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Analytical Models to Determine In-Plane Damage Initiation and Force Capacity of Masonry Walls with Openings

Drougkas, A. (author), Esposito, R. (author), Messali, F. (author), Sarhosis, Vasilis (author)

Masonry panels consisting of piers and spandrels in buildings are vulnerable to in-plane actions caused by seismicity and soil subsidence. Tectonic seismicity is a safety hazard for masonry structures, whereas low-magnitude induced seismicity can be detrimental to their durability due to the accumulation of light damage. This is particularly...

journal article 2021

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Influence of aspect ratio and pre-compression on force capacity of unreinforced masonry walls in out-of-plane two-way bending

Chang, L. (author), Rots, J.G. (author), Esposito, R. (author)

Out-of-plane (OOP) failure of unreinforced masonry (URM) walls in two-way bending was widely observed after natural hazards such as earthquakes. Of various crucial factors influencing the force capacity of URM walls in OOP two-way bending (force capacity being defined as the wall peak force in terms of pressure), the pre-compression and...

journal article 2021

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In-plane response of slender walls made of calcium silicate brick and element masonry

Esposito, R. (author), Ravenshorst, G.J.P. (author), Rots, J.G. (author)

Due to the increase of induced seismic activities in the Groningen area (north part of the Netherlands), the assessment of low-rise residential buildings with slender façade piers became of relevance. In this framework, the in-plane response of slender walls made of calcium silicate (CS) brick and element masonry is investigated in this paper...

journal article 2021

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LOUPE: Observing Earth from the Moon to prepare for detecting life on Earth-like exoplanets: Observing Earth from the Moon to prepare for detecting life on Earth-like exoplanets: LOUPE: Observing Earth from the Moon

Klindzic, D. (author), Stam, D.M. (author), Snik, Frans (author), Hoeijmakers, Jens (author), Willebrands, Michelle (author), Karalidi, Teodora (author), Pallichadath, V. (author), van Dijk, Chris (author), Esposito, Marco (author)

LOUPE, the Lunar Observatory for Unresolved Polarimetry of the Earth, is a small, robust spectro-polarimeter for observing the Earth as an exoplanet. Detecting Earth-like planets in stellar habitable zones is one of the key challenges of modern exoplanetary science. Characterizing such planets and searching for traces of life requires the...

journal article 2021

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Influence of brick and mortar properties on bioreceptivity of masonry: Results from experimental research

Lubelli, B. (author), Moerman, J. (author), Esposito, R. (author), Mulder, K.B. (author)

The effect of mortar and brick properties on the growth of ivy-leaved toadflax (Cymbalaria muralis) and yellow corydalis (Pseudofumaria lutea) has been investigated in laboratory. Different mortar compositions were designed and tested in combination with two different bricks. Highly porous bricks and mortars showed good bioreceptivity;...

journal article 2021

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In-plane seismic behaviour of retrofitted masonry walls subjected to subsidence-induced damage

Drougkas, A. (author), Licciardello, L. (author), Rots, J.G. (author), Esposito, R. (author)

The province of Groningen in the Netherlands is experiencing the continuous impact of gas extraction in the form of induced seismicity. Due to the absence of naturally occurring seismicity in the region, the historic building stock of Groningen was constructed without empirical design features typically encountered in naturally seismic...

journal article 2020

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Capacity of unreinforced masonry walls in out-of-plane two-way bending: A review of analytical formulations

Chang, L. (author), Messali, F. (author), Esposito, R. (author)

Investigations of post-seismic events show that the collapse of walls in out-of-plane (OOP) two-way bending can be one of the most predominant failure mechanisms for unreinforced masonry (URM) structures. To assess the force capacity of URM walls in OOP two-way bending, various analytical formulations have been developed during past decades....

journal article 2020

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Core testing method to assess nonlinear shear-sliding behaviour of brick-mortar interfaces: A comparative experimental study

Jafari, S. (author), Rots, J.G. (author), Esposito, R. (author)

In this study, tests on cores and companion tests on triplets are compared with respect to the evaluation of the nonlinear shear-sliding behaviour of masonry, including the determination of post-peak softening response. Due to its slightly-destructive sampling nature and its good agreement with triplet results, the core testing method is...

journal article 2020

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Experimental investigation of the in-plane cyclic behaviour of calcium silicate brick masonry walls

Messali, F. (author), Esposito, R. (author), Ravenshorst, G.J.P. (author), Rots, J.G. (author)

The material and structural performance of calcium silicate (CS) brick masonry has received relatively little attention in the past, although this material is often used for the construction of low-rise buildings in Central and Northern Europe. Upon the occurrence of induced seismicity in the north of the Netherlands, an extensive testing...

journal article 2020

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Core testing method to assess nonlinear behavior of brick masonry under compression: A comparative experimental study

Jafari, S. (author), Rots, J.G. (author), Esposito, R. (author)

This study investigates the applicability of the core testing method to assess the complete nonlinear behavior of masonry in compression. A comparative experimental approach was adopted performing compressive tests on cores and companion wallets. Via a correlation study on seven objects, including literature data, a one-to-one correlation for...

journal article 2019