Structural performance of spandrels in stone masonry buildings

Masonry spandrels affect in-plane seismic performance of masonry walls in existing unreinforced masonry buildings, as they guarantee an effective coupling between adjacent masonry piers. In this work some results achieved in experimental tests carried out to investigate the structural response of unreinforced masonry spandrels under cyclic loads are presented. Three full-scale spandrel specimens were considered: two made of masonry bricks and one made of sandstone. The effectiveness of two strengthening techniques was investigated: CFRP strips glued horizontally on the spandrel surface and a horizontal steel angle fixed to the spandrel through injected dowels. Based on the above experimental results, a schematization of the resisting mechanism was developed and an analytical model to assess the capacity of spandrels was carried out.