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Coupled elasto-softening contact models in DEM to predict the in-plane response of masonry walls

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This study explores the effect of the local fracture mechanisms of unreinforced masonry (URM) walls on their macro-behavior through different contact models implemented within the discrete element method (DEM). The brittle contact constitutive laws are the standard choice for simulating block interaction in the literature when the discontinuum-based analysis of masonry structures is performed using DEM. However, this assumption may yield inaccurate predictions related to the pre- and post-peak behavior of brick or stonework assemblages subjected to combined compression–shear loading. To this end, tension–shear and shear–compression coupled elasto-softening contact models are proposed to simulate crack propagation and collapse mechanism phenomena in masonry structures, providing a more accurate prediction of the force–displacement response of URM walls. Throughout the study, the discontinuous nature of masonry composite is modeled via discrete blocks that can interact with each other along their boundaries based on the point contact hypothesis. Once the adopted modeling strategy is validated, its performance is demonstrated by comparing it against the commonly used brittle contact model and other available computational approaches. A comprehensive sensitivity analysis is performed on various essential parameters characterizing the post-peak behavior of contact models, and significant inferences are made. Finally, the proposed contact models have shown to be better alternatives to existing brittle and uncoupled elasto-softening contact models used for the DEM-based simulation of masonry structures.

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  1. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada

    Bora Pulatsu

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Pulatsu, B. Coupled elasto-softening contact models in DEM to predict the in-plane response of masonry walls. Comp. Part. Mech. 10, 1759–1770 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40571-023-00586-x

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