Material Characterization tests

The material properties are updated according to the material characterization tests which will take place during March 2021 - November 2021, based on the standards.

Clay bricks and pre-mixed natural hydraulic mortar will be utilized and, as soon as their results will be available, we will upload here the final values. 

 
The selected dimensions of the bricks (4.5 x 12 x 23 cm) are close or comprised inside of the common ranges found in literature, connected with the territorial habit. 
The clay bricks are subjected to a wide variety of modification in terms of strength and durability, depending on the quality of the raw clay and the conditions of manufacture.

This aspect justifies the need of performing a wide material characterization plan.

In general, the filling in the historical vaults is made of core material. In this case, for sake of simplicity, it was decided to use the same bricks for costs reasons. 

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In the masonry joints, along all the shell of the vault, 1 cm of thickness (measured at the intrados) of Biocalce® MuroSano mortar supplied by Kerakoll Ibérica plus calcareous filler, supplied by OMYA Portugal, with a weight ratio lime/filler equal to 1:0.74 was be used.