Setare Seyedain Boroujeni, and Nigel Shrive
Setare Seyedain Boroujeni, Graduate Student, Department of Civil Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, Canada, setare.seyedain@gmail.com
Nigel Shrive, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, Canada, ngshrive@ucalgary.ca.
ABSTRACT
Despite the high level of vulnerability of unreinforced masonry structures under applied loads and the importance of their reliability evaluation, there is no formal methodology to assess the reliability of historic masonry structures. Therefore, a step-by-step methodology for assessing the reliability level of historic masonry structures is being developed. To develop an appropriate determinate methodology, estimations of probabilistic models of structural resistance and load effects are required to formulate a limit state function. The stochastic characteristics of construction materials play key roles in the determination of probabilistic models of structural resistance. Codes of practice recommend values as well as the best fit distributions for different material characteristics. As codes are necessarily conservative and are also generally aimed at design or assessment with modern masonry materials, the use of code values for historical structures may lead to inaccurate reliability assessment. Destructive testing of a historic masonry structure or its components in order to get more realistic information regarding the material properties is not recommended as such tests may lead to irreparable damage to these valuable structures. Thus methodologies for estimating the statistical characteristics of historic masonry materials through non-destructive tests as well as suitable probabilistic models are described. Best fit probabilistic models for different load effects are also presented. Finally, target reliability index and failure probability values and different approaches for calculating suitable targets for historic structures are described. Evaluation of the reliability level of historical structures through the recommended procedure would lead to more realistic and accurate levels of reliability estimation without requiring degradation of the historic structure.
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