50 years of Research and Teaching in Civil Engineering.Major interests are Structural Mechanics,Theory of Shells,Structural Masonry,Alternative Buildings,Energy and Buildings and Rural Energy Systems/Forestry.
The two recent earthquakes of Latur (1993) and Kachchh (2001) in India have caused large-scale da... more The two recent earthquakes of Latur (1993) and Kachchh (2001) in India have caused large-scale damage to buildings and in particular to un-reinforced masonry buildings. In this paper an attempt is made to understand the behaviour of masonry buildings during earthquakes based on post earthquake survey. These studies have revealed the inadequacies in the current provisions for earthquake resistant design. The paper also reports the results of the dynamic analysis of typical Indian brick masonry buildings subjected to three different earthquake ground motions. The stress distributions obtained from this analysis have shown that out-of-plane flexural stresses and in-plane shear stresses exceed their strength limits. Based on stress analysis and observed damage patterns of masonry buildings, it may be concluded that out-of-plane flexural failure of walls is primarily responsible for collapse of masonry buildings during earthquakes. In order to prevent this kind of failure and to improve ...
Load bearing masonry walls of a building, when subjected to earthquake experience in plane and ou... more Load bearing masonry walls of a building, when subjected to earthquake experience in plane and out of plane forces which may lead to sudden collapse. Since a state of pure shear leads to diagonal tension and compression, Split tension tests are conducted on masonry panels to obtain the tensile strength of masonry. The tensile strength of masonry is determined with masonry bed joints as horizontal and with bed joints inclined at 45o to the horizontal. Stress analysis has been carried out using finite element analysis. Both isotropic and orthotropic cases were considered. Split tensile strength of masonry is evaluated from the formula obtained by finite element analysis and the experimental failure loads.
Erosion resistance of pressed soil blocks used for wall construction is discussed. The spray eros... more Erosion resistance of pressed soil blocks used for wall construction is discussed. The spray erosion test using a standardized shower spray is discussed. Spray erosion behaviour of pressed soil blocks made out of five different soils is presented. Results of laboratory and field tests are compared. Effect of clay content of the soil and density of the pressed soil block on erosion are discussed. Also the effect of water-proof coatings on erosion of soil blocks is presented. Erosion resistance of soil blocks stabilized with organic (jaggery syrup and starch) or inorganic binders is also discussed.
The aim of present study is to determine the mechanical properties of hollow concrete block mason... more The aim of present study is to determine the mechanical properties of hollow concrete block masonry externally bonded with coir and glass textile reinforced mortar composites. The properties of textile composites were determined by testing TRM Coupons. A total number of 39 prisms were cast. The block masonry prisms were externally bonded with coir and glass textile fibre mesh with mortar. The elastic properties of block masonry, shear and flexural strength were determined for both unreinforced and strengthened specimens. The results showed that increasing the number of layers of textile fibers, enhanced the flexural capacity of TRM coupons. The provision of connectors also enhanced flexural strength. The stiffness of unreinforced masonry prisms was found to increase by strengthening with textile reinforcements even though the increase in compressive strength is marginal. There is a significant enhancement in flexural strength and shear bond strength when compared to unreinforced mas...
This paper deals with an experimental investigation on the strength of stone and stone masonry. G... more This paper deals with an experimental investigation on the strength of stone and stone masonry. Granitoidgneiss is commonly used for masonry construction in India. The compressive strength of stone has been determined through 80 mm size cubes. It has been found that the compressive strength of granitoid-gneiss is greater when the load is parallel to the mineral bands. The compressive strength of stone masonry was studied through masonry prisms using 1:4 and 1:8 cement mortars. These tests have revealed that masonry strength is higher when the load applied is parallel to the mineral bands. The f lexural bond strength of stone masonry walls was studied through full-scale tests. Flexural bond strength appears to play a major role in the failure of stone masonry walls.
Brick-Mortar Bond and Masonry Compressive Strength. [Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering 17... more Brick-Mortar Bond and Masonry Compressive Strength. [Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering 17, 229 (2005)]. G. Sarangapani, BV Venkatarama Reddy, KS Jagadish. Abstract. This paper focuses on some issues pertaining ...
The use of conventional cement is still unavoidable in the foreseeable future, and many efforts a... more The use of conventional cement is still unavoidable in the foreseeable future, and many efforts are being made, in order to reduce its use in building materials. These efforts include the utilization of supplementary cementing materials such as fly ash, silica fume, granulated blast furnace slag, rice husk ash, and metakaolin. Of late, geopolymer is emerging as a binding material which can be adopted for the production of precast products, and masonry unit is one such convenient product which can be produced. Geopolymers, also known as alkali activated products, can be made by using a variety of ingredients that are abundantly available locally. In the present study, combinations of geopolymer–lime, lime–pozzolana cement, tank-bed soil, and brick powder-based masonry units were made. Some of the favourable proportions, based on the compressive strength and water absorption, were considered to produce geopolymer bricks using ‘adobe’ approach. The modulus of elasticity of the masonry ...
This paper deals with an experimental investigation on the strength of stone and stone masonry. G... more This paper deals with an experimental investigation on the strength of stone and stone masonry. Granitoidgneiss is commonly used for masonry construction in India. The compressive strength of stone has been determined through 80 mm size cubes. It has been found that the compressive strength of granitoid-gneiss is greater when the load is parallel to the mineral bands. The compressive
The two recent earthquakes of Latur (1993) and Kachchh (2001) in India have caused large-scale da... more The two recent earthquakes of Latur (1993) and Kachchh (2001) in India have caused large-scale damage to buildings and in particular to un-reinforced masonry buildings. In this paper an attempt is made to understand the behaviour of masonry buildings during earthquakes based on post earthquake survey. These studies have revealed the inadequacies in the current provisions for earthquake resistant design. The paper also reports the results of the dynamic analysis of typical Indian brick masonry buildings subjected to three different earthquake ground motions. The stress distributions obtained from this analysis have shown that out-of-plane flexural stresses and in-plane shear stresses exceed their strength limits. Based on stress analysis and observed damage patterns of masonry buildings, it may be concluded that out-of-plane flexural failure of walls is primarily responsible for collapse of masonry buildings during earthquakes. In order to prevent this kind of failure and to improve ...
Load bearing masonry walls of a building, when subjected to earthquake experience in plane and ou... more Load bearing masonry walls of a building, when subjected to earthquake experience in plane and out of plane forces which may lead to sudden collapse. Since a state of pure shear leads to diagonal tension and compression, Split tension tests are conducted on masonry panels to obtain the tensile strength of masonry. The tensile strength of masonry is determined with masonry bed joints as horizontal and with bed joints inclined at 45o to the horizontal. Stress analysis has been carried out using finite element analysis. Both isotropic and orthotropic cases were considered. Split tensile strength of masonry is evaluated from the formula obtained by finite element analysis and the experimental failure loads.
Erosion resistance of pressed soil blocks used for wall construction is discussed. The spray eros... more Erosion resistance of pressed soil blocks used for wall construction is discussed. The spray erosion test using a standardized shower spray is discussed. Spray erosion behaviour of pressed soil blocks made out of five different soils is presented. Results of laboratory and field tests are compared. Effect of clay content of the soil and density of the pressed soil block on erosion are discussed. Also the effect of water-proof coatings on erosion of soil blocks is presented. Erosion resistance of soil blocks stabilized with organic (jaggery syrup and starch) or inorganic binders is also discussed.
The aim of present study is to determine the mechanical properties of hollow concrete block mason... more The aim of present study is to determine the mechanical properties of hollow concrete block masonry externally bonded with coir and glass textile reinforced mortar composites. The properties of textile composites were determined by testing TRM Coupons. A total number of 39 prisms were cast. The block masonry prisms were externally bonded with coir and glass textile fibre mesh with mortar. The elastic properties of block masonry, shear and flexural strength were determined for both unreinforced and strengthened specimens. The results showed that increasing the number of layers of textile fibers, enhanced the flexural capacity of TRM coupons. The provision of connectors also enhanced flexural strength. The stiffness of unreinforced masonry prisms was found to increase by strengthening with textile reinforcements even though the increase in compressive strength is marginal. There is a significant enhancement in flexural strength and shear bond strength when compared to unreinforced mas...
This paper deals with an experimental investigation on the strength of stone and stone masonry. G... more This paper deals with an experimental investigation on the strength of stone and stone masonry. Granitoidgneiss is commonly used for masonry construction in India. The compressive strength of stone has been determined through 80 mm size cubes. It has been found that the compressive strength of granitoid-gneiss is greater when the load is parallel to the mineral bands. The compressive strength of stone masonry was studied through masonry prisms using 1:4 and 1:8 cement mortars. These tests have revealed that masonry strength is higher when the load applied is parallel to the mineral bands. The f lexural bond strength of stone masonry walls was studied through full-scale tests. Flexural bond strength appears to play a major role in the failure of stone masonry walls.
Brick-Mortar Bond and Masonry Compressive Strength. [Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering 17... more Brick-Mortar Bond and Masonry Compressive Strength. [Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering 17, 229 (2005)]. G. Sarangapani, BV Venkatarama Reddy, KS Jagadish. Abstract. This paper focuses on some issues pertaining ...
The use of conventional cement is still unavoidable in the foreseeable future, and many efforts a... more The use of conventional cement is still unavoidable in the foreseeable future, and many efforts are being made, in order to reduce its use in building materials. These efforts include the utilization of supplementary cementing materials such as fly ash, silica fume, granulated blast furnace slag, rice husk ash, and metakaolin. Of late, geopolymer is emerging as a binding material which can be adopted for the production of precast products, and masonry unit is one such convenient product which can be produced. Geopolymers, also known as alkali activated products, can be made by using a variety of ingredients that are abundantly available locally. In the present study, combinations of geopolymer–lime, lime–pozzolana cement, tank-bed soil, and brick powder-based masonry units were made. Some of the favourable proportions, based on the compressive strength and water absorption, were considered to produce geopolymer bricks using ‘adobe’ approach. The modulus of elasticity of the masonry ...
This paper deals with an experimental investigation on the strength of stone and stone masonry. G... more This paper deals with an experimental investigation on the strength of stone and stone masonry. Granitoidgneiss is commonly used for masonry construction in India. The compressive strength of stone has been determined through 80 mm size cubes. It has been found that the compressive strength of granitoid-gneiss is greater when the load is parallel to the mineral bands. The compressive
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