Estimation of Mechanical Properties and Mass Density of Al-Malwiya Masonry

Abstract

This paper presents the first estimation for the mechanical properties and the mass density of the masonry of Al-Malwiya heritage minaret. Many approaches are investigated in order to estimate the modulus of elasticity, shear modulus, Poisson’s ratio, and the mass density for this historic masonry. The mechanical properties are estimated by using empirical formulas and analytical equations, while the mass density is estimated after carrying out experimental tests for the extracted samples of the historic mortar. The estimated properties showed relatively low values compared with the newly constructed masonries, but they were interpreted as reasonable for such a historic construction.

Keywords

• masonry properties
• masonry estimation
• heritage masonry
• empirical formulas
• al-malwiya