Predicting Capacity Loss in Settlement-Damaged Masonry Walls under Pushover Loads
An SLA-Based Framework
Ziwei Dai (TU Delft - Civil Engineering & Geosciences)
Alfonso Prosperi (TNO)
Paul A. Korswagen (TU Delft - Civil Engineering & Geosciences)
Jan G. Rots (TU Delft - Civil Engineering & Geosciences)
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Abstract
This study investigates how settlement-induced pre-damage modifies the in-plane pushover response of an unreinforced masonry (URM) wall with a window opening. An event-driven Total Sequentially Linear Analysis (Total-SLA) framework is used. Masonry units are linear elastic, while mortar joints and potential splitting planes are modelled by zero-thickness interface elements capturing tensile opening and frictional sliding through stepwise stiffness/strength reduction. Differential settlement is imposed through a spring-supported base referenced to a prescribed ground profile, and a tensionless condition allows local uplift and partial loss of contact. Settlement-induced damage differs for hogging, sagging, and asymmetric profiles. For the studied wall, sagging and asymmetric settlements reduce the subsequent pushover capacity with peak load reductions up to 25%. Moreover, three bond patterns (stretcher, English, and Flemish) are assessed for the asymmetric settlement case. Stretcher bond maintains a higher post-peak level and recovery, while Flemish bond is intermediate and English bond exhibits the lowest residual resistance after the secondary strength drop.