Evaluation of test methods to determine the mortars elasticity modulus

• Grant number: 06/01135-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2006
• End date: February 29, 2008
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Civil Engineering - Construction Industry
• Principal Investigator: Mercia Maria Semensato Bottura de Barros
• Grantee: Fernanda Belizário Silva
• Host Institution: Escola Politécnica (EP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The deformation capability of a specific mortar is a essential data to evaluate it’s viability, because it expresses the material’s skill to deform without the occurrence of rupture as visible fissures, which may cause prejudice for it’s performance. This property is expressed by the modulus of elasticity, which is the relation between the applied stress in the material and the deformation caused by this stress. There are different methods for the elasticity modulus’ determination of a mortar, which can be classified in static and dynamic methods, which provide distinct results. Meanwhile, there are divergences about the various results which are obtained from different methodologies, what makes both the characterization of commercial mortars and the comparison between various scientific studies difficult. This research proposes an evaluation of the reliability rank associated to each testing methodology for the determination of the elasticity modulus, and also the f each test. It’s also wanted to evaluate and compare the different methods and their respective results. Such analysis will lead to conclusions about the application viability of each testing method and about the quality of the given results. This project is inserted in the “Program of innovation in technology of mortar covering”, developed by the Department of Civil Construction Engineering of the Polytechnic School of the University of Sao Paulo (PCC USP), and partners. With the research’s results, it will be possible to choose, under the methods of determination of mortar’s elasticity modulus, the ones which lead to the most satisfactory and trusty results to be used in the projects of the mentioned research group, producing this way data uniformity. (AU)