Design and Construction of a Test Setup to Investigate Ground Settlement Response of Large-Scale Masonry Building Models

Underground construction activities such as tunnelling and deep excavations in urban areas may impact a significant number of surface structures and cause damage. Tunnelling-induced damage can often be repaired, but at great expense, due to significant repair costs and associated project delays. Within this context, damage caused by excavation-induced ground movements on heritage masonry buildings requires further attention, due to the cultural value and vulnerability of these assets. There is a need for experimental studies to better understand the structural response of these buildings to excavation-induced ground movements. In this study, a test setup was designed and constructed to examine the response of an experimental building model, replicating historic masonry structures, against differential settlement effects. The settlement apparatus relies on controlled jacking of large steel beams to apply differential displacements to the building. A specific tunneling scenario was considered for the design of the settlement apparatus. The constructed test setup is validated by evaluating the displacement profiles of the steel beam for different tests, with or without building. Differences between the differential settlements experienced by the steel beam and the building highlights how building weight and progressive damage may increase compliance to ground movements.