Experimental testing of a composite structural system using tile vaults as integrated formwork for reinforced concrete

Tile vaults are unreinforced masonry structures made of thin bricks (tiles) and fast-setting mortar that can be constructed without the need of a formwork, except at the boundaries, making them inherently economic. Their slenderness and finishing make them also efficient and expressive. These qualities of tile vaulting can be enhanced by combining it with reinforced concrete creating a new composite system. The tile vault can be integrated in the final solution, as a permanent formwork, reducing construction costs and waste. A top layer of reinforced concrete rises up the strength of the composite system, whereas reinforcement reduces the thickness and opens the possibility to build structures with a formal language well beyond what is typically associated with masonry architecture. Therefore, several advantages make the system competitive compared to traditional reinforced concrete shells. This paper presents experimental research on the materials of this composite system and load tests on composite barrel vaults. The construction of full-scale prototypes has allowed a critical review of the construction process and has demonstrated the feasibility of the technique and its successful structural performance. Moreover, the analysis of these composite structures is carried out using Extended Limit Analysis of Reinforced Masonry (ELARM), provided that the reinforcement guarantees sufficient ductility. Furthermore, the data collected from the experimental research becomes a benchmark for the calibration of eventual further structural models.This work was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF, project number P2EZP2_181591). Second author is a Serra Húnter Fellow. This research was also sponsored by the construction company URCOTEX, from which Josep Brazo, Antonio Haro and Albert Martí are especially acknowledged. The construction of the prototypes was carried out together with Jordi Domènech, to whom the authors are very thankful as well. Christian Escrig and Luis Mercedes, from the UPC’s Laboratory for Technological Innovation in Structures and Materials (LITEM), are acknowledged too for their support during the load tests’ setup and during construction respectively. The authors are likewise thankful to Dr. Diego Aponte and Prof. Marilda Barra (UPC) for their help in the development of the concrete’s recipe and their valuable advice in this regard.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version