Impact of salt crystallization on the mechanical properties of structural masonry: An experimental and numerical study

This paper provides the results of an experimental study examining the evolution of mechanical properties of primary constituents of structural masonry (i.e., brick units, mortar and brick–mortar interfaces) during the process of salt crystallization. The precipitated salt changes the pore structure. At the early stages, the porosity decreases which enhances the mechanical performance. However, as the concentration of precipitated salt increases further, the internal damage within the porous matrix leads to a progressive degradation of mechanical properties. The aim of this research is to assesses the impact of salt crystallization on the conditions at failure and the stiffness characteristics of the constituent materials. The evolution laws are expressed in terms of a parameter which represents the degree of accumulation of salt precipitated in pore space. The general form of an elastoplastic constitutive relation, employing this parameter, is briefly discussed and the results of some preliminary numerical simulations are given.