AE-FracMasS: advanced Acoustic Emission analysis for Fracture mode identification in Masonry Structures

Detecting the initiation and growth of damage and the identification of the dominant damage mechanism within a structural component is of paramount engineering importance as it allows to effectively (re-) design or reinforce the structure to withstand the observed failure mode. The behavior of masonry under compression is particularly complex as its structural response is related to the relative mechanical properties of the bricks/blocks, the mortar and their interface. Up to now, experimental characterization of the fracture modes has been based on deformation monitoring of the masonry’s outer surface. In this project, Acoustic Emission (AE) technique will be applied and combined with advanced full-field deformation detection techniques for fracture mode characterization in masonry. AE is a non-destructive technique that allows the detection, location and characterization of a crack propagating within a material by detecting and analyzing the highfrequency elastic waves being produced by the fracture process. The combination of numerical simulation and experimental work at small and large scale as studied in this project provides a damage mode characterization scheme needed for the detailed understanding of the fracture modes in masonry, based on the properties of its constituents. This fundamental knowledge can be applied for the optimization of masonry-components design and for in-situ structural health monitoring of masonry structures.