ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the results of an experimental program evaluating the possibility of available Minor Destructive Testing techniques for the mechanical characterization of historical masonry. The research focuses on mortar, the material component that is usually the most difficult one to be experimentally characterized in existing masonry structures. Masonry wallets were built in the laboratory using clay bricks and lime mortar, material combination corresponding to the vast majority of the historical construction. The chapter provides the results of an experimental program carried out at the Laboratory of Technology of Structures and Materials of the Technical University of Catalonia. Masonry wallets were built on purpose in the laboratory using clay bricks and pure lime mortar, material combination corresponding to the vast majority of the historical construction. The adoption of pure lime in the experimental work is an interesting contribution due to the limited studies available for this specific material.
