Computational modelling
of low strength brickwork wall/beam panels with retro-fitted reinforcement
1,2,3 Research
Fellow, Hoffman Wood Professor of Architectural Engineering and Associate
Professor, respectively,
School of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds,
Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, UK. LS2 9JT.
v.sarhosis@leeds.ac.uk, s.w.garrity@leeds.ac.uk, y.sheng@leeds.ac.uk
ABSTRACT
Retro-fitted stainless steel
reinforcement is being used increasingly to strengthen the masonry cladding of
low to medium rise buildings, particularly where cracking has occurred adjacent
to a long-span window or similar opening. This paper describes the development
of a computational model which was used to predict the behaviour of reinforced
clay brick wall/beam panels subjected to vertical in-plane static loading. In
practice, cracking in unreinforced walls of this type, particularly where low
cement content mortar has been used, tends to occur along the
brick/mortar interfaces and failure usually results from de-bonding of the
bricks. As a result, software based
on the Distinct Element Method (DEM) of analysis was used. The bricks were
represented as an assemblage of stiff but deformable distinct blocks and the mortar
joints were modelled as zero thickness interfaces. These interfaces could open
or close depending on the magnitude and direction of the stresses applied to
them. Reinforcement was modelled using spring connections attached to the
masonry surface.
The masonry material parameters were obtained from the
results of experimental tests carried out in the laboratory on full-scale
unreinforced wall/beam panels. The computational model was then used to predict
the behaviour of wall/beam panels containing bed joint reinforcement. Good
correlation was achieved with the results obtained from the testing of
full-scale reinforced panels in the laboratory, in particular, the load to
cause first visible cracking, the propagation of cracks with increasing applied
load, the mode of failure and the magnitude of the collapse load.
KEYWORDS: masonry, walls, reinforcement, distinct
element modelling.
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