Learning objectives
Knowledge and understanding:
At the end of the course, the student will learn the theoretical bases and the fundamental methodologies for the design and verification of the structural elements of a masonry building subjected to static and seismic actions. The student will also learn how to conceive structural details.
Applying knowledge and understanding:
The student should acquire all those skills that form the basis of a conscious design and should be able to fit within the building process in a systematic way. In particular, a good competence in the structural concepts relative to new civil buildings subjected to static and seismic actions should be obtained.
The student will learn to apply the knowledge acquired during the lessons and the exercises carried out in the classroom to a real context of building design, according to current design codes.
Making judgements:
The student will govern the procedures at the basis of current design practice, through a continuous link between theoretical knowledge and practical applications. The student should understand and evaluate in a critical manner the main aspects governing the conception, the design and the execution of a new building.
Communication skills:
The confidence gained through the connection between theoretical knowledge and practical applications, will allow the student to obtain the necessary skills for results presentation, by adopting an appropriate terminology. The student will be expected to convey the main topics of the course both in oral and written form.
Learning skills:
The student will be able to design the structural elements of a masonry building
The student will be also able to deepen its knowledge on structural design topics through an independent consultation of books and scientific journals, so to effectively face up the working experience or undertake further training courses.
Prerequisites
The courses of Statics, Structural mechanics, and Structural Engineering are helpful.
Course unit content
The course aims at providing the fundamentals for the structural design of masonry buildings under static and seismic loads.
The contents of the course are listed below:
1. Mechanical characterization of masonry;
2. Structural behavior of masonry structures;
3. Design of masonry walls under static loads: simplified dimensioning. Verification of unreinforced masonry walls subjected to vertical loading. Unreinforced masonry walls subjected to shear loading. Unreinforced masonry walls subjected to combined vertical and lateral loading.
4. Preliminary concepts of seismology and methods for the measurement of seismic motion;
5. Basic representation of the seismic action, spectral response analysis and lateral force method of analysis;
6. Ductility, criteria for structural regularity and behaviour factors;
7. Combination of the seismic action with other actions, limit state verifications;
8. Design and detailing of unreinforced masonry buildings in seismic areas: theory and applications;
9. Rules for “simple masonry buildings”;
10. Redistribution of action effects between masonry seismic walls as a function of the diaphragm behaviour; in-plane and out of-plane failure mechanisms in masonry buildings: theory and applications.
Full programme
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Bibliography
GHERSI, A. e LENZA P., Edifici antisismici in cemento armato, DARIO FLACCOVIO EDITORE, 2010.
GHERSI, A., LENZA P. e CALDERONI, B., Edifici in muratura alla luce della nuova normativa sismica, DARIO FLACCOVIO EDITORE, 2011.
- Iacobelli F., "Progetto e verifica delle costruzioni in muratura in zona sismica", EPC libri.
- Carbone I.V., Fiore A., Pistone G., "Le costruzioni in muratura", Hoepli.
All the teaching material (Powerpoint slides) is available via the portal elly.dia.unipr.it
The students are strongly recommended to check periodically Elly web site, since it represents the only tool used by the teacher to communicate with the students themselves. The teaching material relative to all the topics covered during the lessons (whose knowledge will be required at the final examination), as well as the notices/communications relative to the course are reported on this site.
Teaching methods
The course is structured in traditional frontal lectures, also with Powerpoint presentations.
Theoretical concepts are applied during the course by carrying out the step-by-step design of a masonry building.
Assessment methods and criteria
The examination, with a duration of 3.5 hours, is written and consists in two exercises relative to the two parts of the integrated course. The exercise relative to "Design of Structures 2" will focuses on the design/verification of masonry walls subjected to static or seismic actions.
Each exercise is scored from 0 to 30; the final examination rating is calculated as the arithmetic mean of the two scores, rounding up. The examination is passed with a final score greater than 18.
During the course, partial tests for learning verification are scheduled.
Other information
As for all the laboratories, attending the courses is required.
