Design Parameters for Seismically Retrofitted Masonry-to-Timber Connections: Injection Anchors

ABSTRACT

Proper structural connections play an important role in ensuring seismic loads distribution and developing global damage mechanisms of structures. In historical unreinforced masonry buildings, effective connections between masonry walls and timber floors or walls through the use of anchors can prevent the occurrence of out-of-plane mechanisms and promote box-like behavior. Particularly for historic structures, injection anchors can comply with requirements as decreased architectural impact and minimum intervention. Therefore, this article aims at developing structural design parameters and recommendations that allow the design of connections retrofitted with injection anchors, found in historical unreinforced masonry buildings, built during the 19th century, in Portugal. Existing strength prediction formulae based on behavior models, and idealized force-displacement curves were developed to better fit the results obtained from a series of quasi-static monotonic and cyclic pullout tests carried out on pairs of injection anchors. Behavior models were able to approximate the experimental results, if adapted to the specificities of historical masonry. Further validation is needed, particularly for the combined cone-bond model. From the idealized curves, displacement acceptance criteria, expected forces, and behavior factors were proposed, according to the performance-based approaches recommended by EC8-Part 3 and ASCE/SEI 41–13. Finally, retrofit design recommendations were addressed.

KEYWORDS:

• connections
• cyclic pullout test
• design
• idealized curve
• injection anchors
• masonry-to-timber
• performance criteria
• seismic retrofit

Acknowledgement

Authors would like to thank the technical staff of the Structures Lab of University of Minho for the assistance provided preparing and carrying out the tests and also, Monumenta, Ltd. for the construction of the specimens and Cintec^® for the installation of the injection anchors.

Funding

This work was partially funded by project FP7-ENV-2009-1-244123-NIKER of the 7th Framework Program of the European Commission, which is gratefully acknowledged.

Additional information

Funding

This work was partially funded by project FP7-ENV-2009-1-244123-NIKER of the 7th Framework Program of the European Commission, which is gratefully acknowledged.