Experimental Research on Mechanism Impairment and Reinforcement of Empty Bucket Wall

Abstract

In this study, the raw material for the empty bucket wall consists of Dalun bricks unique to South Zhejiang. The investigation focuses on the changes in compressive properties of the empty bucket wall with masonry mortar strength grades of M 2.5, M 5.0, M 7.5, and M 10.0 after a designated period of maintenance in both dry and wet environments. Following this, the empty bucket wall undergoes reinforcement, and the compressive properties are studied. The ensuing comparisons yield pertinent conclusions. Unreinforced walls maintained with varying mortar strengths in a wet environment exhibit reduced cracking loads by 5.8 to 30% and damage loads by 5.6 to 10.8% compared to their counterparts in a dry environment. Reinforced walls, maintained with different mortar strengths in wet environments, show reduced cracking loads by 6.2% to 36% and damage loads by 2.5% to 5.7% compared to those in dry environments. The stress–strain curves of unreinforced and reinforced barrel walls of various strength classes are obtained by fitting the test stress–strain data to the stress–strain data derived from corresponding model equations. These stress–strain curves for unreinforced and reinforced walls align well with the model curves, affirming the precision of the tests.