Experimental study on the seismic behavior of masonry walls under offshore environment

• Published in: Structures (Oxford) 2020-12, Vol.28, p.433-445
• Main Authors: Niu, LiHua, Zheng, ShanSuo, Li, Lei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Confined masonry walls; Offshore atmosphere; Seismic behavior; Seismic damage model; Vertical compression stress
• ISSN: 2352-0124; 2352-0124
• DOI: 10.1016/j.istruc.2020.08.064

Former researches show that offshore atmosphere environment (chloride-induced corrosion) represents one of the most dangerous threats to masonry structures. However, very few studies have been performed on the seismic behavior of confined masonry walls subjected to chloride-induced corrosion. Thus, indoor accelerated corrosion tests and low-cycle reciprocating loading tests were conducted to investigate the seismic performance of confined masonry walls under offshore atmosphere (chloride-induced corrosion). The apparent morphological, cracking and failure patterns of confined brick masonry walls were observed. The effect of salt corrosion cycles and vertical compression stress on hysteretic behavior, load carrying capacity, deformation capacity and energy dissipation capacity were analyzed. The results indicated that as the number of corrosion cycles increased, the bearing capacity of wall specimens was gradually decreased, the deformation ability was deteriorated, and the pinching phenomenon was obvious. With the increase in corrosion degree of chloride salt, the energy consumption capacity of specimens were gradually reduced, and the extent of reduction of bearing capacity and lateral stiffness were gradually increased. Meanwhile, with the increase of vertical compression stress, the load carrying capacity and the initial stiffness increased gradually, the deformability capacity and the accumulated hysteresis dissipated energy decreased, and the load carrying capacity and lateral stiffnesses deteriorated rapidly. Thereafter, a seismic damage model for predicting the damage of brick masonry walls under offshore atmosphere environment was proposed on the basis of the experimental results.