Masonry buildings in the metropolitan region of Recife

Abstract The paper discusses masonry buildings constructed in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. Topics such as the main features of this construction technique and the peculiarities that affect its structural behaviour are discussed. Technical information about accidents occurred in recent years are also discussed, along with the historical records of the events, followed by indications of the causes for the collapse. Additionally, this paper presents an extensive characterisation of materials and components used in non-structural masonry constructions in the region, making it one of the most comprehensive research studies on this topic in Brazil. This study conducts an in-depth, numerical and experimental analysis of the behaviour of the compressive strength of blocks, prisms and mini-walls that are part of a non-load bearing system, which is often used in the region to carry loads above its own weight. The results obtained allowed to identify the contribution of several mortar rendering layers to the load capacity of the tested specimens. The factors that influenced the load capacity of the tested specimens are also discussed. Finally, a summary of the main results of all the tests performed is presented in order to provide a detailed explanation for the failures modes observed, which were always sudden and brittle, as was the case in most accidents that occurred with this type of building in the region.

摘要 本文聚焦巴西伯南布哥州的砌体建筑，探讨了该类施工技术的核心特征，以及影响其结构性能的特殊因素。文中梳理了近年发生的相关事故的技术信息与事件历史记录，并分析了建筑坍塌的成因。此外，本文针对该地区非结构砌体建筑所用的材料与构件开展了全面的特性表征工作，是巴西境内该研究领域内覆盖最为全面的学术研究之一。本研究对该地区常用于承担自重以外荷载的非承重体系中的砌块、棱柱体及微型墙体试件，开展了深入的数值与试验分析，以探究其抗压强度性能。试验结果表明，多层抹灰砂浆层对受试试件的承载能力具有显著贡献，研究同时探讨了影响受试试件承载能力的各类因素。最后，本文对所有试验的核心结果进行了总结，以详细阐释观测到的破坏模式——此类破坏均为突发性脆性破坏，与该地区该类建筑发生的多数事故破坏特征一致。