Design of masonry buildings of three‐layered units according to Eurocode 6 / Bemessung von Mauerwerksbauten aus Dreischichtsteinen nach Eurocode 6

In the recent past, the masonry industry has developed many different solutions for optimising the heat protection of buildings. This took place for the building materials, geometric design, but also by development of multiple layered stones in which the components masonry unit, insulation and outer shell have been integrated into a block.     

The simplified calculation method of DIN EN 1996‐3 in practice / Das vereinfachte Bemessungsverfahren von DIN EN 1996‐3 in der Praxis

The design and detailing of masonry buildings was usually undertaken in the past using the simplified procedure in Section 6 of DIN 1053‐1 (1996‐11). With the changeover to the new European code, a new procedure has been made available with the simplified calculation method of DIN EN 1996‐3, which promises similarly simple and safe handling for the user. The practical implementation of this new code has been underway for some time. The article investigates the standard design cases and explains the innovations and alterations compared to DIN 1053‐1.     

System analysis of Neo‐Gothic vaults / Systemanalyse neugotischer Gewölbe

From the middle of the 19th century until the beginning of World War I, many buildings were built in the Neo‐Gothic style. In this period, Gothic elements were built regarding the former needs to save material. These lightweight and thin vaults are often relatively fragile support systems. They tend to show systemic damages in the form of significant crack patterns in the vault caps and arches. In the research project Preservation of Neo‐Gothic vault structures, typical damages of Neo‐Gothic vaulted structures are analyzed with the objective to find sustainable and rehabilitative measures. In this context, since 2011, numerical and experimental studies have been carried out on a reference structure. Measured values of a 3D laser scanning, including all the imperfections of the structure, provide the basis of the geometry model, created for the finite element simulation. The system behavior was studied experimentally in the non‐critical load range with a load test for the calibration of this numerical model. In this paper, the project framework as well as the implementation and the evaluation of the load test are presented. In further papers, the transfer of the geodetic measurement data to the numerical model and the consideration of the load test results within a realistically finite element simulation will be addressed.     

Analysis of steel‐reinforced masonry walls regarding maximum shear loads / Traglastberechnung von vertikal bewehrten Mauerwerksscheiben

Loadings on masonry for the earthquake case pose particular challenges for the material. In order to improve the load‐bearing and deformation behaviour, masonry building elements can be strengthened with reinforcement. This article presents an analytical model for the calculation of the load‐bearing capacity of vertically reinforced masonry panels. The masonry is modelled as a homogeneous and anisotropic material and failure conditions are based on the plastic theory. Using uniaxially loaded stress fields and considering the structural constraints, a lower load‐bearing threshold can be given. In order to verify the model, three shear tests on reinforced sand‐lime block masonry were recalculated regarding their load‐bearing capacity. The test panels each contained vertical steel reinforcement in the blocks. The blocks were laid in thin bed mortar.     

Practical application of a non‐linear earthquake analysis according to DIN EN 1998‐1 / Praktische Anwendung einer nichtlinearen Erdbebenanalyse nach DIN EN 1998‐1

Seismic safety verification can be performed by maintaining constructive rules or by calculation. Verification by calculation can be performed with a linear simplified or linear multi‐modal response spectrum analysis. Alternatively, a non‐linear quasi‐static verification is also possible according to DIN EN 1998‐1, which was not available in DIN 4149. In this article, the non‐linear quasi‐static earthquake verification according to DIN EN 1998‐1 is presented in practice, using the example of a building in Mittenwald/Germany. The verification has been checked and accepted by an independent building supervision report.     

Simplified design concept for slender masonry walls / Vereinfachter Stabilitätsnachweis knickgefährdeter Mauerwerkswände

The verification of safety against buckling of unreinforced masonry walls according to the accurate design procedure of EN 1996‐1‐1 Appendix G is based on semi‐empirical approaches, which do not always realistically describe the load‐bearing behaviour. This statement is also supported by an objection of the country Denmark concerning the load capacity function which is regulated in Appendix G. Using new findings about the effects of non‐linear material behaviour in case of stability failure this article investigates fundamental questions about the buckling behaviour of masonry walls and transfers these into a simple practical structural design proposal. As a result, the load capacity function can be considerably simplified, the influence of creep can be integrated and the number of input parameters can be reduced.