Characterization of the materials used in the multi-leaf masonry walls of monumental structures in Istanbul, Turkey

•Mechanical characteristics of historical multi-leaf walls in Istanbul are investigated.•Test results for materials, dry joints, single- and multi-leaf walls are presented.•Indicative values for strength and deformability characteristics are obtained.•Test results are compared with the predictions of equations from literature.

Knowledge on the mechanical behavior of materials used in the walls of historical masonry structures has paramount importance for reliable seismic evaluation of heritage buildings. Since the knowledge on the mechanical characteristics of traditional stone masonry walls in Turkey is scarce, this study intends to enlarge the experimental data on the behavior of the Ottoman period multi-leaf walls constructed in Istanbul. For this purpose, results of an experimental campaign, carried out on these multi-leaf walls and their constituents, are provided. In addition, experimental strength and deformability parameters of single- and multi-leaf masonry are compared with the predictions of simple equations available in the literature.