Stress-strain relationships for tuff masonry: experimental results and analytical formulations

The study of the mechanical behavíour of traditional masonry walls - that is, made of natural stones using low strength mortars - is an inferesting topic in retrofitting, refurbishment and seismic upgrading. Some results from compression tests on tuff masonry walls are given. The walls have been made with different block arrangements - properly bonded and as two leaves infilled with smaller stones - in order to reproduce those typical of existing buildings; some walls were subsequently strengthened wíth grout injections and reinforced. The results obtained allow strength and deformability to be evaluated and the improvement of the mechanical properties due to strengthening and retrofitting techniques to be determined. Finally, the experimental evaluation of the stress-strain curves enabled the reliability of some analytical relationships to be checked against the actual behaviour of tuff masonries.