Mechanical Characterization of Masonry Typologies in Israel via Flat Jack Tests

Abstract

During the last decade, the Laboratory of the Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering department at the University of Padova, together with a Spin-Off of the same University, Expin srl, and the consultant engineering company Schaffer & Ronen ltd., carried out more than fifty on site single and double flat jacks on masonry panels of a relevant sample of existing masonry buildings in different historical sites in Israel. Typical Israeli masonry used in historical buildings consists of limestone, calcar (sand) stone, and Basalt stone masonry, with mostly lime based mortar as a binder. Double flat jack tests were employed on two main types of stone walls: single-faced and two-faced stone wall (the most common stone masonry arrangement). From these tests it was possible to obtain the characterization of the mechanical properties of the stone masonry panels tested, belonging to different construction eras and masonry types. Double flat jack tests were mainly carried out following the local state of stress determination via single flat jack. The paper presents the results with a classification of the masonry types mechanical characteristics. This ongoing work, to be complemented with laboratory tests in future stages, may represent a preparatory work for the development of reference characteristic values of the different masonry types of the country, to be included in Israeli technical standards.