Micromodels for the In-Plane Failure Analysis of Masonry Walls with Friction: Limit Analysis and DEM-FEM/DEM Approaches

Abstract

Despite its complexity, the accurate structural modelling of masonry still represents an active field of research, due to several practical applications in civil engineering, with special reference to the preservation and restoration of cultural heritage. In this work a comparison of different models and techniques for the assessment of the mechanical behaviour of two-dimensional block masonry walls subjected to the static action of in-plane loads is presented. Panels are characterized by different height-to-width ratio as well as various masonry textures. Brick-block masonry, perceived as a jointed assembly of prismatic particles in dry contact, is modelled as a discrete system of rigid blocks interacting through contact surfaces unable to carry tension and resistant to sliding by friction, modelled as zero thickness elasto-plastic Mohr-Coulomb interfaces. Different approaches and numerical models are considered: Limit Analysis (LA), Discrete Element Model (DEM) and Finite Elements/Discrete Element Model (FEM/DEM). Limit Analysis is able to provide fast and reliable results in term of collapse multiplier and relative kinematism. Here a standard Limit Analysis is adopted via an own made procedure based on Linear Mathematical Programming, taking into account friction at interfaces.

Limit analysis approach for the in-plane collapse of masonry arches

“…This work focus the attention on the study of the ultimate behaviour of masonry arches of different geometries and shape, considering the presence of friction, considered by several authors (Ferris and Tin-Loi, 2001;Mousavian and Casapulla, 2020;Portioli et al, 2014;Casapulla and Maione, 2020), and comparing results with several contributes present in literature (Brandonisio et al, 2017;Calderini and Lagomarsino, 2015;Como, 2015;Misseri et al, 2018;DeJong et al, 2008). In particular, starting from (Baggio and Trovalusci, 2000), a new version of the ALMA code (Analisi Limite Murature Attritive) has been developed based on the Limit Analysis (Pepe, 2020;Pepe et al, 2019Pepe et al, , 2020a namely ALMA 2.0. ALMA 2.0 has been implemented in recent coding language of Python TM permits an easy and fast scalability and improving of the code.…”

“…The position the critical joints is then obtained following a solved with a trial and error strategy by varying its position. (Pepe et al, 2019(Pepe et al, , 2020a overcome the limit in term of number of blocks respect to the original version (Baggio and Trovalusci, 2000) and it has been improved in order to take into account foundation settlement (Pepe et al, 2020b), cohesion between the joints and retrofitting cable (Pepe, 2020).…”

Rotation and sliding collapse mechanisms for in plane masonry pointed arches: statistical parametric assessment

“…Starting from the work of [13], a new version of the ALMA code (Analisi Limite Murature Attritive) has been developed based on the Limit Analysis [23,24,25] namely ALMA 2.0. The new version of ALMA by the adoption of the recent coding language Python T M and the advantages of the novel optimization subroutine, such as MOSEK library (www.mosek.com), overcomes the limit in terms of number of blocks with respect to the original version [13] and it has been improved in order to take into account foundation settlement [21], cohesion between the joints and retrofitting tie [23].…”