SAHC2012, Structural Analysis of Historic Construction, 15th to 17th of October 2012 in Wrocław, Poland
Historical masonry is typically characterised by its low
bond strength. Cracking of such masonry is often as a result of the de-bonding
of the masonry units from the mortar joints and the post-cracking response up
to collapse is influenced by the characteristics of the masonry unit/mortar
interface.
The development
of a computational model that is applicable for low bond strength fired clay
brick masonry is described. Using software based on the Distinct Element Method
of analysis, bricks were represented as an assemblage of distinct blocks. The
mortar joints were modelled as zero thickness interfaces which can open or
close depending on the magnitude and direction of the stresses applied to them.
The material
parameters for the masonry constitutive model were obtained from the results
from the load testing of large wall/beam clay brick masonry panels in the
laboratory. Initially the panels were modelled computationally using an assumed
set of material parameters. The differences between the results obtained
experimentally and numerically were then minimized by adjusting the parameters
in the constitutive model using an optimization technique. The model was then
used with the optimized parameters to predict the structural response of other
unreinforced and reinforced wall/beams that had been tested previously in the
laboratory. Good correlation was obtained with the experimental results.
Keywords:
Bricks, Bond, Computational modelling, Masonry
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