Interface Mechanics of Masonry Panels under Biaxial Loading

本计画探讨砖与砂浆墙板在不同组合的面内荷载作用下的表现，以代表砌体结构在地震事件下的表现。 一项实验计划将利用休斯顿大学现有的“通用面板测试仪”，在双轴压缩和拉伸的不同组合下检查1.4mx1.4m的砌体面板。将使用数字图像相关系统来跟踪砖和砂浆材料系统的底部和顶部接缝中的渐进裂缝和滑动，以及脆性砖单元的潜在裂缝。将开发一个计算模型来捕捉脆韧性破坏机制的两个组成部分的材料系统，这将是验证实验观察，以量化固有的不确定性砌体结构。这项研究涉及两个研究生的指导下，两个教师除了一个本科生谁将接受培训（a）在伺服控制的多轴测试领域，（B）在使用强大的成像跟踪新兴的故障机制，和（c）在不同的平面内负载情况下的砌体结构的有效材料性能的计算机建模领域。特别努力将通过与德克萨斯南方大学，大津，位于休斯顿大学旁边，并与草原视图A M大学附近招收不同的本科生和研究生。国家和国际合作与我们的同事在加州大学圣地亚哥分校和加泰罗尼亚理工大学，UPC-巴塞罗那，将有助于接触到西班牙裔社区，其中学生交流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.