Thermophysical Properties of Masonry Elements for Modelling Tensile Bond Strength of Rendering Mortar

• Grant number: 25/10063-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: March 01, 2026
• End date: February 28, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Civil Engineering - Structural Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Guilherme Aris Parsekian
• Grantee: Renato Baiochi Alves Veronese
• Supervisor: Mhd Anwar Orabi
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Queensland, Brisbane (UQ), Australia
• Associated to the scholarship: 22/15293-2 - Analysis of mortar coating adhesion in structural masonry under high temperatures, BP.DR

Abstract

This research aims to obtain thermophysical properties of masonry elements to enhance the numerical modelling of tensile bond strength in rendering mortars exposed to high temperatures. Structural masonry fire performance depends on material properties, particularly thermal conductivity and specific heat, which influence heat transfer and mechanical degradation. Experimental tests will be conducted at The University of Queensland using the Transient Plane Source (TPS) method to determine these properties of concrete and ceramic blocks, as well as rendering and laying mortars. Finite element modelling (FEM) will be applied to simulate tensile bond strength tests, incorporating thermophysical data experimentally obtained. The study addresses a significant gap in the literature by integrating temperature-dependent interface degradation, a key factor for predicting the detachment of render under fire exposure. The results will allow for a more accurate assessment of structural masonry performance in fire conditions while reducing the need for large-scale experimental tests. By combining experimental and numerical approaches, this project will provide crucial data for own PhD research in the country of origin and for the fire safety design, benefiting both researchers and industry professionals. The findings will contribute to the development of standardized testing methodologies and improved predictive models for masonry structures under high-temperature conditions.