MS-72 Advances in the Numerical Modelling of Masonry Structures

Vasilis Sarhosis, University of Leeds
Jose V Lemos, National Laboratory for Civil Engineering
Katalin Bagi, Budapest University of Technology and Economics
Gabriele Milani, Politecnico di Milano

Masonry is a combination of units such as stones, bricks or concrete blocks usually laid in a cementitious or lime mortar. In spite of its simplicity of construction, the analysis of the mechanical behaviour of masonry structures remains a challenge. Masonry is a brittle, anisotropic, composite material that exhibits distinct directional properties due to the mortar joints which act as planes of weakness. When subjected to very low levels of stresses, masonry behaves approximately in a linear elastic manner. The behaviour of masonry becomes increasingly non-linear after the formation of cracks and the subsequent redistribution of stress through the uncracked material as the structure approaches collapse. The behaviour of masonry is complicated further by the inherent variations in the constituent materials, variations in workmanship, the effects of deterioration caused by weathering processes and the development of other defects during the life of the masonry structure. Given the complexity of masonry behaviour, this Minisymposium on “Advances in the numerical modelling of masonry structures” will offer an opportunity for the presentation and discussion on the recent advances in this field.

Topics of Interest Include:

• Analytical and computational strategies for masonry block structures subjected to in-plane and out-of-plane behaviour
• Numerical investigation of masonry structures subjected to earthquake loads
• Standard and non-standard limit analysis of masonry block structures
• Rocking response of rigid blocks to earthquakes
• Consideration of the soil-structure interaction in models of masonry structures and case studies