MODELING THE SEISMIC BEHAVIOR OF A MASONRY AQUEDUCT

Nowadays, a large number of masonry structures can be found within the heritage of historic civil engineering infrastructures. In many cases, the lack of maintenance has led to their deterioration, which can compromise their stability, especially if they are located in seismic zones. Masonry structures are particularly vulnerable to seismic actions because of their reduced tensile strength, and to an even greater extent as the durability of the materials is compromised by the simple passage of time. Fiber-Reinforced Cement Matrix (FRCM) is presented as an alternative intervention to improve the behavior of masonry against dynamic loads [3]. FRCM is usually composed of a bidirectional mesh of glass, carbon or basalt fiber and a cementitious matrix. The use of FRCM in masonry structures increases their strength and improves their ductility. The main advantage of their use compared to resin-bonded FRP is the compatibility with the reinforced surface and the good bonding conditions, as well as the control of moisture problems related to permeability. In the present work, a preliminary analysis of the structural behaviour of an aqueduct located in the town of Aspe (Alicante) has been carried out. This simulation has been carried out as a previous step to the calculation of a possible reinforcement by means of FRCM if necessary to ensure the seismic stability of the structure. A laser scanner was used to record a point cloud that allowed the three-dimensional survey, from which the geometry of the finite element model was defined. In addition, the model has been created with shell- layered elements that allow a combination of linear and non-linear behavior to be defined depending on the type of stress and its direction.