Structural assessment of earthen walls using damage tests and models

摘要

The study and understanding of the structural behavior of earth as a construction material are key to proposing compatible interventions that guarantee the durability and stability of earthen buildings, especially in seismic regions. Nonlinear calculation methods such as damage models are of great use in the mechanical assessment of earthen buildings. However, these procedures require accurate knowledge of the mechanical properties of the material, such as compression strength, tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, and fracture energy, if they are to provide truly precise results. This article details the process of characterizing a case of earthen construction using in situ and laboratory tests for the application of mechanical properties described in a nonlinear numerical model to produce accurate calibration of the behavior of the material both under gravity and seismic actions.