Combining Brazilian tests on masonry cores and double punch tests for the mechanical characterization of historical mortars

Abstract

This research presents a novel integrated methodology for the experimental characterization of historical mortars, including different types of laboratory tests. Different experimental tests on lime mortar brickwork were carried out, including Brazilian tests on core drilled masonry samples with one diametral mortar joint and double punch tests on extracted mortar joints. By representing the mortar’s state of failure on the Mohr’s plane for the different tests, it is possible to estimate the material’s strength envelope through a least square minimization method. The proposed approach can be useful to evaluate the compressive, tensile and shear behaviour of mortar in existing structures.