Numerical Analysis of Dry Stone Masonry under Compressive and Shear Loading

Two dimensional nonlinear finite element analysis (TDNFEMA) based on experimental test data has been carried out to model deformation characteristics, such as load-displacement envelope diagrams and failure modes of historical stone masonry shear walls subjected to combined axial compression and lateral shear loading. Three types of masonry that can be considered representative of ancient stone masonry constructions are: (i) sawn dry-stack or dry-stone masonry without bonding mortar, (ii) irregular stone masonry with bonding mortar, and (iii) rubble masonry with irregular bonding mortar thickness. The micro- modeling strategy was adopted for the numerical analysis of the cyclic behavior of masonry structures. This paper outlines the experimental research work, details of numerical modeling (such as: Structural elements and macro-elements, Continuum finite element models, Discontinuum finite element models, Discrete element models, and Limit analysis models) that in this paper Discontinuum finite element models are used for numerical analysis. The numerical analysis (TDNFEMA) results were compared with the experimental test results and good agreement was found.

Keywords:

Finite element analysis , Stone , Masonry , Numerical analysis