Abstract
Rubble stones are commonly found in many civil engineering components, such as foundations, walls. In general, rubble stone masonry walls are composed of irregular-shaped stone units and mortar. They are usually subjected to vertical and horizontal loads simultaneously and exhibit high degree of nonlinearity and discontinuity in service conditions. The combined finite-discrete element method (FDEM) was employed to investigate the mechanical behaviour of rubble stone masonry walls in this study. In order to overcome the disadvantages in both macro- and simplified micro-modelling, a detailed micro-modelling approach was utilised, i.e. stone, mortar and stone-mortar interface were considered explicitly, providing close approximation to physical structures. Stone units and mortar were discretised into linear triangular elements with finite element formulation incorporated in, and therefore, accurate estimate on structural deformation and contact forces can be obtained. Damage of rubble stone masonry was evaluated through cohesive fracture models. Numerical examples were validated, and further parametric discussions were performed. Influence of stone unit pattern, ratio of stone and strength of mortar on the failure behaviour of rubble stone masonry walls was revealed. A very good agreement between FDEM results and experimental data was observed. It was found that the higher the ratio of stone, the better the bearing capacity, and uniform-shaped stone units with regular distribution were recommended. In addition, use of mortar with both tensile and shear strengths higher than 0.2 MPa was suggested.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Milosevic J, Gago AS, Lopes M, Bento R (2013) Experimental assessment of shear strength parameters on rubble stone masonry specimens. Constr Build Mater 47:1372–1380
de Vasconcelos GFM (2005) Experimental investigations on the mechanics of stone masonry: Characterization of granites and behavior of ancient masonry shear walls. PhD thesis. University of Minho, Portugal
Pereira JM, Correia AA, Lourenço PB (2021) In-plane behaviour of rubble stone masonry walls: experimental, numerical and analytical approach. Constr Build Mater 271:121548
Malomo D, DeJong MJ (2022) A macro-distinct element model (M-DEM) for simulating in-plane/out-of-plane interaction and combined failure mechanisms of unreinforced masonry structures. Earthq Eng Struct Dynam 51(4):793–811
Lourenço PB (1996) Computational strategies for masonry structures. PhD thesis. Delft University of Technology, Netherlands
Lourenço PB (2013) Computational strategies for masonry structures: multi-scale modelling, dynamics, engineering applications and other challenges. Congreso de Métodos Numéricos en Ingeniería, Bilbao, Spain
Pelà L, Cervera M, Roca P (2013) An orthotropic damage model for the analysis of masonry structures. Constr Build Mater 41:957–967
Roca P, Cervera M, Gariup G, Pela’ L (2010) Structural analysis of masonry historical constructions. Classical and advanced approaches. Arch Comput Methods Eng 17(3):299–325
Lourenço PB, Rots JG (1997) Multisurface Interface Model for Analysis of Masonry Structures. J Eng Mech 123(7):660–668
Senthivel R, Lourenço PB (2009) Finite element modelling of deformation characteristics of historical stone masonry shear walls. Eng Struct 31(9):1930–1943
Shieh-Beygi B, Pietruszczak S (2008) Numerical analysis of structural masonry: mesoscale approach. Comput Struct 86(21–22):1958–1973
Macorini L, Izzuddin BA (2011) A non-linear interface element for 3D mesoscale analysis of brick-masonry structures. Int J Numer Meth Eng 85(12):1584–1608
Vandoren B, De Proft K, Simone A, Sluys LJ (2013) Mesoscopic modelling of masonry using weak and strong discontinuities. Comput Methods Appl Mech Eng 255:167–182
D’Altri AM, de Miranda S, Castellazzi G, Sarhosis V (2018) A 3D detailed micro-model for the in-plane and out-of-plane numerical analysis of masonry panels. Comput Struct 206:18–30
Šejnoha J, Šejnoha M, Zeman J, Sýkora J, Vorel J (2008) Mesoscopic study on historic masonry. Struct Eng Mech 30(1):99–117
Zhang S, Mousavi SMT, Richart N, Molinari J-F, Beyer K (2017) Micro-mechanical finite element modeling of diagonal compression test for historical stone masonry structure. Int J Solids Struct 112:122–132
Zhang S, Beyer K (2019) Numerical investigation of the role of masonry typology on shear strength. Eng Struct 192:86–102
Pulatsu B, Erdogmus E, Lourenço PB, Lemos JV, Hazzard J (2020) Discontinuum analysis of the fracture mechanism in masonry prisms and wallettes via discrete element method. Meccanica 55(3):505–523
Azevedo NM, Pinho FFS, Cismaşiu I, Souza M (2022) Prediction of rubble-stone masonry walls response under axial compression using 2D particle modelling. Buildings 12(8):1283
Munjiza A (2004) The combined finite-discrete element method. John Wiley and Sons, Hoboken
Munjiza A (1992) Discrete elements in transient dynamics of fractured media. PhD thesis, University of Wales, Swansea, UK
Munjiza A, Knight EE, Rougier E (2011) Computational mechanics of discontinua. John Wiley and Sons, Hoboken
Munjiza A, Rougier E, Knight EE (2015) Large strain finite element method: a practical course. John Wiley and Sons, Hoboken
Knight EE, Rougier E, Lei Z, Euser B, Chau V, Boyce SH, Gao K, Okubo K, Froment M (2020) HOSS: an implementation of the combined finite-discrete element method. Comput Part Mech 7(5):765–787
Lei Z, Rougier E, Euser B, Munjiza A (2020) A smooth contact algorithm for the combined finite discrete element method. Comput Part Mech 7(5):807–821
Lei Z, Bradley CR, Munjiza A, Rougier E, Euser B (2020) A novel framework for elastoplastic behaviour of anisotropic solids. Comput Part Mech 7(5):823–838
Chen X, Chan AHC (2018) Modelling impact fracture and fragmentation of laminated glass using the combined finite-discrete element method. Int J Impact Eng 112:15–29
Chen X, Chen X, Chan AHC, Cheng Y (2022) Parametric analyses on the impact fracture of laminated glass using the combined finite-discrete element method. Compos Struct 297:115914
Chen X, Ou W, Fukuda D, Chan AHC, Liu H (2023) Three-dimensional modelling on the impact fracture of glass using a GPGPU-parallelised FDEM. Eng Fract Mech 277:108929
Smoljanović H, Živaljić N, Nikolić Ž (2013) A combined finite-discrete element analysis of dry stone masonry structures. Eng Struct 52:89–100
Smoljanović H, Nikolić Ž, Živaljić N (2015) A combined finite–discrete numerical model for analysis of masonry structures. Eng Fract Mech 136:1–14
Smoljanović H, Nikolić Ž, Živaljić N (2015) A finite-discrete element model for dry stone masonry structures strengthened with steel clamps and bolts. Eng Struct 90:117–129
Smoljanović H, Živaljić N, Nikolić Ž, Munjiza A (2018) Numerical analysis of 3D dry-stone masonry structures by combined finite-discrete element method. Int J Solids Struct 136–137:150–167
Chen X, Wang H, Chan AHC, Agrawal AK (2020) Dynamic failure of dry-joint masonry arch structures modelled with the combined finite-discrete element method. Comput Part Mech 7(5):1017–1028
Chen X, Wang H, Chan AHC, Agrawal AK, Cheng Y (2021) Collapse simulation of masonry arches induced by spreading supports with the combined finite–discrete element method. Comput Part Mech 8(4):721–735
Chen X, Wang X, Wang H, Agrawal AK, Chan AHC, Cheng Y (2021) Simulating the failure of masonry walls subjected to support settlement with the combined finite-discrete element method. J Build Eng 43:102558
Ou W, Chen X, Chan A, Cheng Y, Wang H (2022) FDEM simulation on the failure behavior of historic masonry heritages subjected to differential settlement. Buildings 12(10):1592
Chen X, Ou W, Chan AHC, Liu H, Fukuda D (2024) Vulnerability of pointed masonry barrel vaults subjected to differential settlement simulated with a GPGPU-parallelized FDEM. Int J Appl Mech 15(7):2350059
Chen X, Ou W, Chan AHC, Liu H, Fukuda D, Cheng Y (2024) Numerical analysis on the impact response of stone masonry arches with a GPGPU-parallelised FDEM. Comput Part Mech 11(1):405–418. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40571-023-00629-3
Munjiza A, Smoljanović H, Živaljić N, Mihanovic A, Divić V, Uzelac I, Nikolić Ž, Balić I, Trogrlić B (2020) Structural applications of the combined finite–discrete element method. Comput Part Mech 7(5):1029–1046
Munjiza A, John NWM (2002) Mesh size sensitivity of the combined FEM/DEM fracture and fragmentation algorithms. Eng Fract Mech 69(2):281–295
Hillerborg A, Modéer M, Petersson P-E (1976) Analysis of crack formation and crack growth in concrete by means of fracture mechanics and finite elements. Cem Concr Res 6(6):773–781
Munjiza A, Andrews KRF, White JK (1999) Combined single and smeared crack model in combined finite-discrete element analysis. Int J Numer Meth Eng 44(1):41–57
Hordijk DA (1992) Tensile and tensile fatigue behaviour of concrete; experiments, modelling and analyses. Heron 37(1):3–79
Zivaljic N, Smoljanovic H, Nikolic Z (2013) A combined finite-discrete element model for RC structures under dynamic loading. Eng Comput 30(7):982–1010
Magenes G, Penna A, Galasco A, Rota M (2010) Experimental characterisation of stone masonry mechanical properties. In: Proceedings of the 8th international masonry conference, pp 247–256
Pinho FFS, Lúcio VJG (2017) Rubble stone masonry walls in Portugal material properties, carbonation depth and mechanical characterization. Int J Archit Herit 11(5):685–702
Pinho FFS (2007) Ordinary masonry walls—experimental study with unstrengthened and strengthened specimens. PhD thesis, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon (in Portuguese)
Hamp E, Gerber R, Pulatsu B, Quintero MS, Erochko J (2022) Nonlinear seismic assessment of a historic rubble masonry building via simplified and advanced computational approaches. Buildings 12(8):1130
Pinto APF, da Fonseca BS, Silva DV (2021) Mechanical characterization of historical rubble stone masonry and its correlation with the masonry quality assessment. Constr Build Mater 281:122168
Acknowledgements
This research was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51808368) and Qinglan Project of Jiangsu Province of China. The authors highly appreciated the support on the FDEM from Professor A. Munjiza.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Chen, X., Liang, Z. & Chan, A.H.C. Simulating the damage of rubble stone masonry walls using FDEM with a detailed micro-modelling approach. Comp. Part. Mech. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40571-024-00757-4
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40571-024-00757-4