Finite Element Detailed Micromodeling of Unreinforced Earth Block Masonry
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 149, Issue 7
Abstract
The structural response of earth block masonry is characterized by cracking patterns and inelastic behavior distributed across masonry units, mortar joints, and unit-mortar interfaces. This behavior is different from that exhibited by masonry built with fired clay bricks, concrete blocks, or regularly shaped stones, which are commonly characterized by cracking patterns and inelastic behavior within the mortar joints and unit-mortar interfaces and are typically analyzed using finite element (FE) simplified micro-models (SMMs). This paper presents a new detailed micromodel (DMM) specifically tailored for earth block masonry systems. The proposed DMM enables the accurate simulation of the experimentally-measured mechanical response of earth block wallettes subject to combined shear-compression diagonal loads, whereas the SMMs produce inaccurate results. Through a series of FE simulations of representative masonry elements, this study shows that the proposed DMM and different types of SMMs provide consistent predictions of mechanical behavior only under specific conditions, depending on the relative strength of masonry units and mortar as well as the loading conditions. The outcomes of this research provide a new tool for accurate prediction and simulation in instances where the compressive strength of the masonry units is similar to or lower than that of the mortar.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code generated or used during the study are available in a repository online in accordance with funder data retention policies. The Abaqus/Explicit User subroutine VMAT written in FORTRAN for the CTSIM can be found in Kumar and Barbato (2023). The input files and data used for the validation of the DMM results for CSEB masonry wallette can be found in Kumar et al. (2023).
Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of the National Science Foundation through awards CMMI #1537078, #1537776 and #1850777, by the University of California Office of the President (UCOP) Lab Fees program through award LFR-20-651032, by the Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. (EPRI) through award DKT200194, and by the University of South Carolina Office of the Vice President for Research ASPIRE and SPARC programs, and Office of Undergraduate Research Magellan Scholar program. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the sponsoring agencies.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 149 • Issue 7 • July 2023
Copyright
© 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 27, 2022
Accepted: Feb 27, 2023
Published online: Apr 26, 2023
Published in print: Jul 1, 2023
Discussion open until: Sep 26, 2023
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Building materials
- Construction (by type)
- Construction engineering
- Continuum mechanics
- Cracking
- Elasticity and Inelasticity
- Engineering fundamentals
- Engineering materials (by type)
- Engineering mechanics
- Finite element method
- Fracture mechanics
- Joints
- Masonry
- Material mechanics
- Material properties
- Materials engineering
- Mechanical properties
- Methodology (by type)
- Mortars
- Numerical methods
- Solid mechanics
- Structural behavior
- Structural engineering
- Structural members
- Structural systems
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