1. Abstract Topology optimization is employed to define the geometry of the cross-section of any masonry block that minimizes its thermal transmittance, with the aim of maximizing the thermal insulation of masonry buildings. Constraints on the mechanical properties of the block are also prescribed. The effect of the design constraints on the optimal layout of the blocks is investigated. The the...

Citation: Furukawa A, Kiyono J, Parajuli RR, Parajuli HR and Toki K (2017) Evaluation of Damage to a Historic Masonry Building in Nepal through Comparison of Dynamic Characteristics before and after the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake. Front. Built Environ. 3:62. doi: 10.3389/fbuil.2017.00062 Evaluation of Damage to a Historic Masonry Building in Nepal through Comparison of Dynamic Characteristics befor...

Haiti is not alone amongst developing nations that have suffered losses due to the poor construction of concrete and masonry structures in an earthquake. In the wake of the disaster, a considerable amount of public sympathy and substantial funding was raised that supported short term, front line activities. However, there is little recognition of the need for adequately funded systems of organi...

In this article, after a brief description of some signi®cant catastrophic structural failures going back to the period when iron and steel began to replace wood and masonry as the primary structural materials, the historical development of the ®eld of fracture mechanics is discussed. First, the basic concepts of the ®eld, the motivation underlying their development and the key contributions ma...

Walls of corridors and chambers in the Neolithic dolmens of Portugal and Spain were constructed using megalithic slabs or masonry. When constructed with slabs, the slabs were arranged using two very different construction systems, based either on placement of an orthostat or on imbrication of the slabs. Although generally dolmens are described with orthostats, on the Iberian Peninsula are most ...

The vulnerability of buildings on coastal dikes due to overtopping wave impacts is difficult to assess. A method is developed in this paper to quantify the vulnerability of masonry buildings on a coastal dike exposed to wave overtopping. Using previous studies, the accidental loads due to the extreme wave impacts are characterized. Using the approach from Eurocode 6, the strength of masonry bui...

Unreinforced masonry (URM) walls strengthened with composites were tested to failure at a decommissioned building in St. Louis, Missouri. The walls were subjected to out-of-plane loading. Previous work on URM as well as reinforced masonry walls strengthened with FRP laminates has shown remarkable increases in capacity and ductility. However, most of this research work has been conducted in the ...

in this paper the traditional covering plaster of masonry buildings is supplied with polypropylene and steel fiber to enhance their seismic behavior. the plaster mix proportion is determined by some initial mortar tests. also, one story, single span masonry building specimen plastered with different mortars is tested on a shaking table 8 times under a seismic input and the performance of the sp...

This paper deals with the failure risk of masonry constructions under the effect of floods. It is developed within a probabilistic framework, with loads and resistances considered as random variables. Two complementary approaches have been investigated for this purpose: – a global approach based on combined effects of several governing parameters with individual weighted contribution (material ...