Lyndsey Terry, Igor Chaves, Mark Masia, Md Akhtar Hossain, and Robert Melchers
i PhD Student, Civil Engineering, The University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia, lyndsey.terry@newcastle.edu.au
ii Associate Professor, The University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia, igor.chaves@newcastle.edu.au
iii Professor, The University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia, mark.masia@newcastle.edu.au
iv Research Associate, The University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia, akhtar.a.hossain@newcastle.edu.au
v Emeritus Professor, The University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia, rob.melchers@newcastle.edu.au
ABSTRACT
In brick veneer and cavity brick walls the steel wall ties are essential structural components linking the external leaf of masonry to the internal framework. Steel wall ties are susceptible to corrosion over time which can ultimately result in the complete deterioration of the material. Such corrosion significantly impacts the structural integrity of brick veneer and cavity brick walls, increasing the risk of failure under lateral forces from earthquake or wind. Detecting corrosion in embedded wall ties in masonry walls is difficult and often only becomes apparent after the wall has failed or been demolished. This limitation calls for a deeper understanding of the corrosion of steel wall ties within the air cavity of masonry walls. The current research provides data on the environmental conditions within the air cavity of a brick veneer and cavity brick wall structure, revealing the impact temperature and humidity have on the corrosion of galvanised and stainless-steel wall ties, and steel wall ties with no corrosion protection. After one year of exposure to the natural environment, the qualitative and quantitative data presented uncovers corrosion processes affecting wall ties in two types of masonry wall air cavities. The research reported herein signifies the influence that the cavity brick and brick veneer air cavity micro-climate have on wall tie corrosion over time.
KEYWORDS: Masonry, wall ties, cavity, corrosion.
067-Terry.pdf
