Fire performance of masonry under various testing methods

Abstract

Masonry, as a construction material, is known to perform well under elevated temperatures, which makes it an attractive choice for structural applications. This superior performance is a reflection of its inert thermal characteristics, good stability, and slow degradation of mechanical properties. Still, and similar to other construction materials, masonry undergoes a series of temperature-dependent physio-chemical and phase changes once exposed to high temperatures. Such changes are determined through temperature-dependent material models often obtained by means of physical tests on representative masonry specimens. A deep dive into the open literature shows that not only we lack standardized procedures for testing masonry under fire conditions, but existing researcher-derived methods vary significantly. As a result, available temperature-dependent material models also vary given their sensitivity to testing parameters (i.e., set-ups, heating history etc.). It is primarily due to the aforenoted observations that we continue to lack a holistic understanding of the fire behavior of masonry which also extends to limiting advancements in performance-based design of masonry structures. In order to bridge this knowledge gap, this paper reviews commonly adopted fire testing methods on masonry and the wide scatter of corresponding temperature-dependent material models to provide researchers and practitioners with much-needed knowledge that is currently missing in this domain. Findings from this review can then be used to develop modern and up-to-date temperature-dependent material models to facilitate the design of new masonry constructions or analysis of existing ones (including historical buildings).