Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Multiscale numerical modeling of clay brick masonry under compressive loading

  • Technical Paper
  • Published:
Innovative Infrastructure Solutions Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Masonry is generally comprised of periodic arrangement of masonry unit bonded together with mortar. Masonry is a heterogenous material and exhibits orthotropic behavior. In this study, the elastic-inelastic behavior of brick masonry under compressive loading is predicted using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) based homogenization approach. A three-dimensional repetitive unit cell representing English bond brick masonry is adopted for the homogenization procedure. The proposed approach requires elastic properties, peak compressive and tensile stress, and strain at peak stress values of brick and mortar as the inputs. Material non-linearity in brick and mortar is modeled using concrete damage plasticity model present in ABAQUS software. Using the FEA-based homogenization approach, homogenized stress–strain response of brick masonry subjected to compressive loading (both, normal and parallel to bed joint) and shear loading are obtained. Failure of masonry due to progressive damage development in bricks and mortar joints when subjected to compressive loading is studied. A user-defined material (UMAT) code is developed based on homogenized stress–strain curves. This UMAT can be adopted as constitutive relationship for macro scale modeling of brick masonry using ABAQUS software. The performance of the UMAT is assessed by simulating compression test experiments performed on masonry assemblages found in the literature. The UMAT is found to be satisfactory in predicting the behavior of masonry under compression.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Khan A, Lemmen C (2013) Bricks and urbanism in the Indus Valley rise and decline. Available: arXiv:1303.1426

  2. Lourenco PB (2014) Masonry structures, overview. Encycl Earthq Eng 1–10

  3. Venkatarama Reddy CVBV (2008) Influence of shear bond strength on compressive streng. Available: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1617/s11527-008-9358-x

  4. Rao KSN, Pavan GS (2015) FRP-confined clay brick masonry assemblages under axial compression: experimental and analytical investigations. J Compos Constr 19(4):04014068

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Oyguc R, Oyguc E (2017) 2011 Van earthquakes: lessons from damaged masonry structures. J Perform Constr Facil 31(5):1–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Nayak S, Dutta SC (2016) Failure of masonry structures in earthquake: a few simple cost effective techniques as possible solutions. Eng Struct 106:53–67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2015.10.014

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Proença JM, Gago AS, Vilas Boas A (2019) Structural window frame for in-plane seismic strengthening of masonry wall buildings. Int J Archit Herit 13(1):98–113. https://doi.org/10.1080/15583058.2018.1497234

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Borri A, Corradi M, De Maria A (2020) The failure of masonry walls by disaggregation and the masonry quality index. Heritage 3(4):1162–1198

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Asteris PG, Plevris V, Sarhosis V, Papaloizou L, Mohebkhah A, Komodromos P (2015) Numerical modeling of historic masonry structures. Civil and Environmental Engineering: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications. IGI Global, Pennsylvania, pp 27–68

    Google Scholar 

  10. Lourenco PB (2015) Encyclopedia of earthquake engineering. Springer, New York

    Google Scholar 

  11. D’Altri AM, Sarhosis V, Milani G, Rots J, Cattari S, Lagomarsino S, Sacco E, Tralli A, Castellazzi G, de Miranda S (2020) Modeling strategies for the computational analysis of unreinforced masonry structures: review and classification, vol 27. Springer, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11831-019-09351-x

    Book  Google Scholar 

  12. Li T, Atamturktur S (2014) Fidelity and robustness of detailed micromodeling, simplified micromodeling, and macromodeling techniques for a masonry dome. J Perform Constr Facil 28(3):480–490

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Micic T, Asenov M (2015) Probabilistic model for ageing masonry walls. In: 12th international conference on applications of statistics and probability in civil engineering, ICASP. pp 1–8

  14. Shalini S, Honnalli S, Pavan GS (2023) Determining elastic properties of CSEB masonry using FEA-based homogenization technique. In: Materials today: proceedings (xxxx). Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2023.04.206

  15. Lourenço PB, Rots JG, Blaauwendraad J (1998) Continuum model for masonry: parameter estimation and validation. J Struct Eng 124(6):642–652

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Majtan E, Cunningham LS, Rogers BD (2023) Numerical study on the structural response of a masonry arch bridge subject to flood flow and debris impact. Structures 48(2022):782–797. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.istruc.2022.12.100

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Özmen A, Sayın E (2018) Linear dynamic analysis of a masonry arch bridge. In: International conference on innovative engineering applications (September). pp 1–7

  18. Bolhassani M, Hamid AA, Lau AC, Moon F (2015) Simplified micro modeling of partially grouted masonry assemblages. Constr Build Mater 83:159–173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2015.03.021

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Abdulla KF, Cunningham LS, Gillie M (2017) Simulating masonry wall behaviour using a simplified micro-model approach. Eng Struct 151:349–365. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2017.08.021

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Miccoli L, Garofano A, Fontana P, Müller U (2015) Experimental testing and finite element modelling of earth block masonry. Eng Struct 104:80–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2015.09.020

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Naciri K, Aalil I, Chaaba A, Al-Mukhtar M (2021) Detailed micromodeling and multiscale modeling of masonry under confined shear and compressive loading. Pract Period Struct Des Constr 26(1):04020056

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Calderón S, Arnau O, Sandoval C (2019) Detailed micro-modeling approach and solution strategy for laterally loaded reinforced masonry shear walls. Eng Struct 201(February):109786. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2019.109786

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Addessi D, Marfia S, Sacco E, Toti J (2014) Modeling approaches for masonry structures. Open Civ Eng J 8(1):288–300

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Parisi F, Balestrieri C, Asprone D (2016) Nonlinear micromechanical model for tuff stone masonry: experimental validation and performance limit states. Constr Build Mater 105:165–175. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2015.12.078

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Parambil Nithin K, Gururaja S (2017) Multiscale damage development in polymer composite laminates. In: 58th AIAA/ASCE/AHS/ASC structures, structural dynamics, and materials conference, (January). American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, Virginia. pp 1–9. https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/10.2514/6.2017-0658

  26. Parambil NK, Gururaja S (2017) Micro-scale progressive damage development in polymer composites under longitudinal loading. Mech Mater 111:21–34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Parambil NK (2018) Ph.D. Thesis - a unified framework for micromechanical damage modeling in laminated polymer matrix composites (January)

  28. Garoz D, Gilabert FA, Sevenois RDB, Spronk SWF, Rezaei A, Van Paepegem W (2016) Definition of periodic boundary conditions in explicit dynamic simulations of micro- or meso-scale unit cells with conformal and non-conformal meshes. In: ECCM 2016 - proceeding of the 17th European conference on composite materials

  29. Ghayoor H, Hoa SV, Marsden CC (2018) A micromechanical study of stress concentrations in composites. Compos Part B Eng 132:115–124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2017.09.009

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Weng J, Wen W, Cui H, Chen B (2018) Micromechanical analysis of composites with fibers distributed randomly over the transverse cross-section. Acta Astronaut 147(April):133–140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2018.03.056

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Barbero EJ (2013) Finite element analysis of composite materials using abaqus™. CRC Press, Boca Raton

    Book  Google Scholar 

  32. Muench I, Balakrishna AR, Huber J (2019) Periodic boundary conditions for the simulation of 3d domain patterns in tetragonal ferroelectric material. Arch Appl Mech 89(6):955–972

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Santos CF, Alvareng RCSS, Ribeiro JCL, Castro LO, Silva RM, Santos A, Nalon GH (2017) Numerical and experimental evaluation of masonry prisms by finite element method. Rev IBRACON Estruturas Mater 10(2):477–508

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Śledziewski K (2017) Selection of appropriate concrete model in numerical calculation. ITM Web Conf 15(December):07012

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Dauda JA, Iuorio O, Lourenço PB (2018) Characterization of brick masonry: study towards retrofitting URM walls with timber-panels. In: Proceedings of the international masonry society conferences. pp 1963–1978

  36. Guo Z (2014) Principles of reinforced concrete, first edn. Available: http://103.159.250.162:81/fdScript/RootOfEBooks/EBOOKSCOLLECTION2020DATA2/CED/PrinciplesofReinforcedConcreteByZhenhaiGuo.pdf

  37. Naraine S (1989) Behavior of brick Masonry under compressive loading. J Struct Eng 115(2):1432–1445

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Kaushik HB, Rai DC, Jain SK (2007) Stress–strain characteristics of Clay Brick Masonry under uniaxial compression. J Mater Civ Eng 19(9):728–739

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Kaushik HB, Rai DC, Jain SK (2007) Uniaxial compressive stress-strain model for clay brick masonry. Curr Sci 92(4):497–501

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal, Mangaluru, Karnataka, 575025, India

    Santoshgouda Honnalli, O. S. Vishnu & G. S. Pavan

Authors
  1. Santoshgouda Honnalli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. O. S. Vishnu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. G. S. Pavan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to G. S. Pavan.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no Conflict of interest. The authors did not receive any support or funding from any organization for the work submitted.

Ethical approval

This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

Informed consent

For this type of study, formal consent is not required.

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.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Honnalli, S., Vishnu, O.S. & Pavan, G.S. Multiscale numerical modeling of clay brick masonry under compressive loading. Innov. Infrastruct. Solut. 9, 185 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41062-024-01487-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41062-024-01487-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation