Parametrical study of masonry walls subjected to in-plane loading through numerical modeling

Abstract

This paper deals with the numerical assessment of the influence of parameters such as pre-compression level, aspect ratio, vertical and horizontal reinforcement ratios and boundary conditions on the lateral strength of masonry walls under in-plane loading. The numerical study is performed through the software DIANA® based on the Finite Element Method. The validation of the numerical model is carried out from a database of available experimental results on masonry walls tested under cyclic lateral loading. Numerical results revealed that boundary conditions play a central role on the lateral behavior of masonry walls under in-plane loading and determine the influence of level of pre-compression as well as the reinforcement ratio on the wall strength. The lateral capacity of walls decreases with the increase of aspect ratio and with the decrease of pre-compression. Vertical steel bars appear to have almost no influence in the shear strength of masonry walls and horizontal reinforcement only increases the lateral strength of masonry walls if the shear response of the walls is determinant for failure, which is directly related to the boundary conditions.

Through-bolt push out effects on the behavior of hybrid masonry systems

“…These results are in agreement with findings by Haach et al [11] and by Tomazevic [22], which point out that the vertical reinforcement does not contribute to the shear resistance of the walls unless confined by horizontal reinforcement. The influence of vertical reinforcement diameter and of horizontal reinforcement diameter are analyzed next.…”

“…Experimental tests and numerical modeling (see [8][9][10][11] and the references therein) show the performance of such walls and provide guidelines to achieve optimal results for in-plane loaded reinforced masonry walls.…”

Prediction of the shear strength of reinforced masonry walls using a large experimental database and artificial neural networks

“…However, the benefit of the vertical reinforcement ratio on the lateral strength is not straightforward, due to the predominance of diagonal cracking for medium to high levels of vertical pre-compression (Haach et al, 2011). On the other hand, a greater vertical reinforcement ratio would not appear to affect the displacement ductility or the stiffness of the walls (Nolph & ElGawady, 2012).…”

Finite-Discrete Element Modelling of Masonry Infill Walls Subjected to Out-of-Plane Loads

“…The finite Element (FE) method has been applied more extensively to predict the in-plane behaviour for infills with [8] or without [9] openings. Some numerical studies are performed through the software DIANA [9,10].…”

“…Some numerical studies are performed through the software DIANA [9,10]. ANSYS software has been used by several researchers as well [11]; Mohyeddin et al [12] have developed a three-dimensional FE model of infilled RC frames at a micro-level, showing that the model can be employed to interpret the response of the infilled frame under in-or out-of-plane loading over a wide range of drifts, allowing a parametric/sensitivity analysis [13].…”