Investigation on Partial Factors and Probabilistic Models for Existing Masonry Materials

Many masonry buildings exist worldwide. Safety assessments are crucial for renovation and upgrading. On-site testing reveals material properties and historic loads, enabling updates to structural resistance models for more accurate evaluations. (1) This paper details updating resistance models with Bayesian theory and the proof load method. (2) It proposes three verification levels: high, medium, and low, using on-site material and load data. (3) Suitable resistance partial factors for each verification level are suggested. (4) The method is validated through practical case studies of masonry structure evaluations. The results show that (1) the mean value of the resistance of the existing masonry members updated by “Bayesian theory” and “Proof load methods” increases while the coefficient of variation decreases. (2) The reliability index of existing masonry components increases with the increase in the proof load and decreases with the increase in the coefficient of variation in material property uncertainty. (3) For “High verification level” and “Moderate verification level”, the resistance partial factors for existing masonry structure assessment can be taken as 1.67 and 1.70, respectively. (4) That updated partial factors can be used for structures.