The impact of high frequency/low energy seismic waves on unreinforced masonry

Abstract

Traditionally, the high frequency components of earthquake loading are disregarded as a source of structural damage because of their small energy content and because their frequency is too high to resonate with the natural frequencies of structures. This thesis argues that higher frequency waves travelling through stiff masonry structures can trigger two types of failure mechanisms that have not yet been taken into account. First, the high frequencies can cause small vertical inter-stone vibrations that result in irreversible relative displacements of the stones, which may ultimately lead to collapse. The energy needed to cause this deformation and failure comes largely from gravitational forces. The second failure mechanism is associated with the increase of the outward thrust that results from the partial fluidization and densification of the loose granular inner core of some unreinforced masonry walls. Preliminary results of a series of static and dynamic tests, as well as of numerical models, demonstrate the potentially destructive effects of high frequency/low energy seismic waves on unreinforced masonry structures.