Modelling the in-Plane Behaviour of Masonry Façades via a Multi-Unit Discretization With Simplified Interface Layout

Abstract

Based on a benchmark test, this paper discusses the validation process of a new numerical modelling procedure developed for simulating the behaviour of periodic masonry structures. The peculiarity of the analysed MUDis (Multi-Unit Discretization) procedure stands on the possibility to discretize any masonry walls with periodic arrangement using a limited number of repeated modules covering more than a single masonry unit, thus greatly reducing the inherent sources of nonlinearity and minimizing the computational effort. The modules are made of four linear elastic polygonal units separated by nonlinear interface elements whose preestablished layout allows to reproduce all the typical in-plane collapse mechanisms of masonry walls subjected to lateral loads. The mechanical parameters of the interface elements are described through the "combined cracking-shearing-crushing" model proposed by Lourenço & Rots and widely used in the FEM-based simplified micromodeling of masonry structures. Three of these parameters have been suitably modified by the Authors through parametric formulas in order to adapt the original constitutive model to the MUDis modelling. The reliability of the procedure, already validated for two-dimensional panels, is here evaluated by resorting to the experimental data of a real masonry façade for which results are available in the literature.