Damage Models for the Seismic Response of Brick Masonry Shear Walls. Part I: The Mortar Joint Model and Its Applications

Abstract

SUMMARYThe response of brick masonry walls to in-plane horizontal cyclic loads analogous to those induced during seismic events is analysed by applying constitutive models which take into account the mechanical behaviour of each component and its interfaces, i.e. decohesion and slipping in the mortar joints and failure in bricks. To this end, a damage model for mortar joints is proposed and then applied in two different approaches to the analysis of brick masonry walls which are described both in the present paper and in the companion paper. The response of the mortar joint model to varying stress and strain is here analysed and applied to the simulation of experimental results from shear tests on mortar-brick assemblages. From the description of the mortar joints and assuming brittle constitutive equations for the brick units, a composite model based on a finite element approach is here developed and applied to the lateral analysis of rectangular shear walls. Even if this model turns out to be computationally burdensome, it may give information on the inelastic mechanisms and related strains by means of a local description of the element motion. Some simulations of the lateral response of experimented walls under cyclic horizontal actions superimposed on vertical loads are carried out and an interpretation of the influence of the wall geometry on the lateral stiffness degradation and on the hysteretic energy dissipation is given.1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A non‐linear interface element for 3D mesoscale analysis of brick‐masonry structures

“…Experimental outcomes [8] and inspection of failure modes of real URM structures show that cracks usually run along brickmortar interfaces and can then continue through bricks following continuous paths. These intrinsic features of the brick-masonry structural behaviour suggested the use of nonlinear interface elements for detailed finite element analyses of URM panels under monotonic and cyclic loads [9,10]. In such structural models zero-thickness interfaces are employed to represent the nonlinear behaviour of mortar and brick-mortar interface as well as potential 3 cracks in bricks.…”

Micro-Modeling Brick Walls with Reinforced Openings by a Layer of Shotcrete

“…He modeled bricks by continuous elastic elements that were covered by the surface elements (Page, A.W., 1978). Based on the characteristics of cement between the bricks and taking into account a characteristic equation of bricks, Gambaruta and Lagumarsio (Gambarotta and Lagomarsino, 1997) designed a composite model and applied it for finite element analysis of lateral movement of brick shear walls. Also in 1996, Alcocer et al examined the behavior of masonry walls having pod by Bar grid and cover cement.…”

Behavior of Single Story Bearing Wall Masonry Structures in Various Conditions

“…The first is boulders and the second is bricks. The first type is known for its cracking resistance due to having irregular mortar interfaces 3 . Foundations of all the investigated models were of the same configuration and sub-base, resulting in the same stiffness 5 .…”