Masonry

Masonry is the building material resulted by the assemblage of masonry units and mortars,
where the mortar adhesion and the course staggering influence the monolithical behaviour and the
complex state of stresses that occur even within masonry walls subjected only to gravitational loads.

The complex state of stresses in masonry walls is determined by: the differences in the
deformability of the masonry units (stone) and mortar, the unevenness of the mortar joints and stones,
etc. In the specific case of fieldstone masonry, where mortar joints vary substantially in thickness and
have significant deviations from the orthogonal position, the complex state of stresses is greatly
increased.

Thus, important concentrations of stresses appear in areas where joint thickness is reduced,
resulting in the direct transmission of stresses from one stone to another. These can cause additional
stresses that result in the shifting of the stones, additional shear stresses in joints, and, by the
premature superseding of the adhesion between stones and mortar, the dislocations of some stones,
resulting in the rapid progression of deformations, at the same time decreasing the compression
strength of the masonry.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In stone masonry works, the elastic modulus of the stones is much superior to that of the
mortar, therefore the elastic modulus of the masonry is mostly determined by the elastic modulus of the
mortar and the relative heights of the joints. Thus, with the increase of the height of the stones,
decreases and the masonry elastic modulus increases. Thus, is considered the wall from the lower (Fig.
1) with the rehabilitated shaded portion (new masonry). If the modulus of elasticity of the new masonry
(EN) differs from that of the old masonry (EV), then a redistribution of the compression stresses takes
place, with a σ1 value for the consolidation area, and σ2 for the existing masonry. Assuming that EN>
EV, it results that σ1> σ2 and ∆z1 < ∆z2, in terms of vertical deformations.

Considered separately, the vertical deformation (shortening) for section 1 (rehabilitated) and
section 2 (existing masonry) are zero at the base of the wall and maximum on top. Accordingly, if: EN>
EV follows: ∆z1

In all cases, the length and the height of the rehabilitated area are l1 and h2. The existent
section has length l2 and h is the height of the wall.

The rehabilitation of existing buildings in the context of sustainable development should

consider social, economic, as well as environmental protection aspects and the intervention solution
should be in accordance with all of them [2].

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

In all the five cases the total axial load (N) of the wall is distributed to the two different areas
unevenly, in dependence with the rigidity of the wall sections. N = N1 + N2 (1) A variation of
rehabilitation stances with more than two different sections can be illustrated with equation (1), given
that all the sections are accounted for. The axial loads N1 and N2 are proportional to the compressive
stifness (k1, k2) of each area: N1 = N 1 2 1 k k k + (2) N2 = N 1 2