Mechanical performance of full-scale Pompeii-like masonry panels

Abstract

Designing suitable structural interventions to preserve ancient masonry structures subjected to seismic activity requires a comprehensive and interdisciplinary knowledge of traditional building techniques. The mechanical properties of materials and the shear behaviour of masonry walls are essential parameters to design suitable interventions for the preservation of ancient assets from the seismic action. However, such information is still lacking for the ancient masonry structures at the archaeological site of Pompeii.This study investigated the shear strength of rubble stone masonry panels. The reproduced full-scale masonry complies with the ancient building technique “opus incertum” identified at the Pompeii site. Three panels were built based on a detailed survey of the ancient masonry structures involved in the 79 AD eruption that first emerged during the new excavation work conducted at Regio V. Original rock units from the ruins of the new excavation area and lime and pozzolana-based mortar produced according to the Vitruvius provisions were used to build the panels. In-situ sonic pulse velocity tests and diagonal compression tests were carried out on the panels in order to identify an appropriate correlation between the results of non-destructive and destructive tests.The realization of the panels is described herein and the results of sonic and diagonal compression tests are presented and discussed.