An Experimental Study on the Effect of Water on Historic Brickwork Masonry

Domenico Giaccone,Ulderico Santamaria,Marco Corradi

doi:10.3390/heritage3010003

Domenico Giaccone, Ulderico Santamaria + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage3010003

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Journal: Heritage	Publication Date: Jan 10, 2020
Citations: 17	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Tuscia University, University of Perugia

Abstract

Architectural heritage is deeply threatened by extreme weather events due to ongoing climatic change. Since these phenomena are becoming more and more serious, their effects cannot be neglected when a reliable assessment of a historic masonry structure is required. In this paper, the phenomenon of rising damp was studied, focusing on the influence of water on the unit weight of masonry walls made from fired clay bricks and lime mortar. This study consists of a basic experimental research on the variations in the unit weight of masonry undergoing an ageing treatment, which was simulated through some cycles of capillary water absorption and temperature changes. The experimental study proves that penetrating damp causes an increase in masonry unit weight of more than 20%. This basic result is significant in the structural assessment of historic masonry buildings. Subsequent papers will analyze the interaction with strengths parameters.

Highlights

Architectural heritage has always suffered damage, which is the result of the decay of the masonry materials that occurs over time
The awareness that architectural heritage is deeply threatened by climate change is becoming ever more apparent [1,2,3]
The units used for construction are fired clay bricks with nominal dimensions of 100 × 210 ×

Summary

Introduction

Architectural heritage has always suffered damage, which is the result of the decay of the masonry materials that occurs over time. Changes in average climatic conditions occurring over a long period of time, result in an increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as the rise in environmental temperature, relative humidity, and freeze-thaw cycles. These phenomena directly affect the physical, chemical, and biological mechanisms, which can cause the deterioration of construction materials and of the cultural assets themselves. Measuring the effects of these phenomena is a necessary condition for the analysis of the heritage assets, and will allow us to undertake a reliable assessment of the risks facing such assets and decide on an appropriate course of action for their protection

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