Mechanical Anchor Strength in Stone Masonry


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The goal for further research is the creation of a site tool that could allow an engineer to comfortably increase the currently-used design values for tension and shear. Based on our investigation, pulse velocity is the most promising material characteristic to explore as the basis of this hypothetical tool. With more testing and refinement, a relatively quick field test could allow the engineer to make conclusions about the compressive strength of the base material and design more appropriate anchor installations. This would inevitably result in less conservative design practices and fewer instances of damage in historic facades.

It should be noted that some failure modes are likely confined to our laboratory and their failures should be interpreted accordingly. For example, cube splitting is probably a result of the specimens having near-critical edge distances on all four sides, or a complete lack of edge constraint. This is an unlikely condition in the field.