ERIES-REVAULTs

ERIES - REVAULTs is a transnational access project supported by the Engineering Research Infrastructures for European Synergies (ERIES) project. Funded under the European Union’s Horizon Europe Framework Programme (Grant Agreement No. 101058684), ERIES aims to provide transnational access to the best European facilities in the fields of structural, seismic, wind and geotechnical engineering. REVAULTs aims to investigate the in-plane shear response of masonry cross vaults subject to seismic actions through pseudo-static cyclic tests. The experimental tests will be performed on a full-scale mock-up representing a lateral bay of a three-nave church. To accurately represent the asymmetric boundary conditions typical of these churches, the vault will be supported on one side by two pillars and on the other side by a perimeter wall. Horizontal displacements will be applied to both sides of the vault via hydraulic actuators to induce in-plane shear response. After a first series of tests that will cause damage, the vault will be repaired and reinforced, then tested again to assess the effectiveness of the strengthening interventions. REVAULTs is a collaborative effort between the University of Genoa (Italy), the University of Minho (Portugal), and Kerakoll S.p.a. The University of Genoa and the University of Minho are responsible for designing the experimental mockup, conducting dynamic identification tests, performing numerical simulations of the experimental tests, and designing the strengthening interventions for the damaged mockup. Kerakoll will assist in designing the strengthening interventions and will supply strengthening products. The experimental tests will be conducted at the European Laboratory for Structural Assessment (ELSA) of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) in ISPRA, Italy. ELSA’s reaction wall, the largest in Europe and the second largest worldwide, will serve as the main testing facility.