Macroscopic response of regular masonry from homogenization: comparison of isotropic and orthotropic damage models

Abstract

This paper outlines prediction of macroscopic effective properties of a regular masonry from homogenization. It focuses on the derivation of nonlinear macroscopic stress strain curves adopting either classical isotropic or more advanced orthotropic damage model. The response resulting from both tensile and compressive uniaxial loading is examined in the light of strain and stress loading regimes. A masonry structure typical of ”Placa” buildings (mixed masonry- reinforced concrete buildings) built in Portugal is selected as one particular example to illustrate the differences in the predictive capabilities of the two constitute models on the one hand and the formulation of the homogenization problem on the other hand. It is suggested that the mixed loading conditions are essentially required when estimating all macroscopic material parameters needed in the corresponding macroscopic constitutive model