Interface Mechanics of Masonry Panels under Biaxial Loading

本课题研究了砖混结构墙板在不同面内荷载组合作用下的抗震性能。一项实验计划将利用休斯顿大学现有的“万能面板测试仪”来测试1.4mx1.4米的砖石面板在不同的双向压缩和拉伸组合下的性能。将使用数字图像关联系统来跟踪砖和砂浆材料系统的床层和头部接缝中的渐进裂缝和滑动，以及脆性砖单元的潜在裂缝。将建立一个计算模型来捕捉双组分材料系统的脆韧破坏机理，该模型将通过实验观察得到验证，以量化砌体结构中的内在不确定性。研究涉及两名研究生和一名本科生，他们将接受以下领域的培训：(A)伺服控制多轴试验领域，(B)使用强大的成像跟踪新出现的破坏机制，以及(C)在不同面内荷载情景下砖结构有效材料特性的计算机模拟领域。将特别努力招收不同的本科生和研究生，通过靠近休斯顿大学的德克萨斯南方大学和与Prairie View A&Amp；M大学。与加州大学圣地亚哥分校和加泰罗尼亚理工大学巴塞罗那分校的同事在国内和国际上的合作将有助于接触拉美裔社区，从而学生交换计划将提供额外的激励措施。

This project investigates the performance of brick and mortar wall panels under different combinations of in-plane loading representative of masonry structures under seismic events. An experimental program will take advantage of the existing "Universal Panel Tester" at the University of Houston to examine 1.4mx1.4m masonry panels under different combinations of biaxial compression and tension. A digital image correlation system will be used to trace progressive cracking and sliding in the bed and head joints of the brick and mortar material system and potential cracking of the brittle brick units. A computational model will be developed to capture the brittle-ductile failure mechanism of the two component material system, which will be validated from experimental observations to quantify inherent uncertainties in masonry construction.The research involves two graduate students under the direction of the two faculty in addition to one undergraduate student who will be trained (a) in the fields of servo-controlled multi-axial testing, (b) in the use of powerful imaging to track emerging failure mechanisms, and (c) in the field of computer modeling of effective material properties of masonry construction under different in-plane load scenarios. Special efforts will be undertaken to recruit diverse Undergraduate and Graduate students through the proximity with the Texas Southern University, TSU, located next to the University of Houston, and with Prairie View A&M University. National and international cooperation with our colleagues at the University of California-San Diego and at the Polytechnical University of Catalonia, UPC-Barcelona, will serve to reach out to the Hispanic communities, whereby a student exchange program will provide additional incentives.