A comparative experimental campaign to estimate the normal interface stiffness of dry-joint masonry structures

Abstract

Dry-joint masonry structures are particularly vulnerable to earthquakes and their dynamic response strongly depends on the interaction between units. Therefore, the precise characterisation of their behaviour is of paramount importance. This study performs an experimental campaign to estimate the normal interface stiffness of dry-joint masonry specimens. Owing to the lack of standardised experimental procedures, two experimental methods are herein presented, namely deformation-based and vibration-based. Despite their fundamental differences, the results reveal very good agreement between the methods, which, in turn, capture well the marked non-linear dependency between the normal stress and the normal interface stiffness. Importantly, the outcomes of the present study also serve as a validation framework between the two methods, providing confidence for their independent or concurrent use.