Two approaches for the analysis of masonry structures

Abstract

Two models for the micro- and macro-analysis of masonry structures are presented. For the micromodeling of masonry, an interface failure criterion that includes a straight tension cut-off, the Coulomb friction law and an elliptical cap is proposed. The inelastic behavior includes tensile strength softening, cohesion softening, compressive strength hardening/softening and coupling between tensile and shear failure. It is shown that the model is capable of describing the local interaction of both masonry components and of reproducing, in a detailed manner, observed experimental behavior. For the macro-modeling, an anisotropic continuum model that includes a Rankine type yield surface for tension and a Hill type yield surface for compression is proposed. Anisotropic elasticity is combined with anisotropic plasticity, in such a way that totally different behavior can be predicted along the material axes, both in tension and compression. It is shown that, for sufficiently large structures, the global response of masonry can be well predicted even without the inclusion of the local interaction between the masonry components.