A COMPARATIVE-STUDY ON THE APPROXIMATE ANALYSIS OF MASONRY STRUCTURES

In this paper, numerical analysis of structural masonry subject to a u niform in-plane tensile stress/strain field is investigated employing various homogenisation techniques. Here, structural masonry is regarde d as a composite material with brick, bed joints and head joints as it s constituents. Assuming a perfect bonding between constituent materia ls, two homogenisation techniques based on the strain energy approach are applied to derive equivalent elastic moduli of masonry. Structural relationships for the constituent materials are next derived to relat e strains and stresses in constituents to the average strains and stre sses in the masonry. In addition, a slightly different concept of the homogenisation technique based on Eshelby's solution of the ellipsoida l inclusion problem is also applied to compare the results with the en ergy based methods. The tensile strength of the masonry is found on th e basis of the failure of any of the constituent materials. It is show n that tensile strength is a function of the elastic parameters of bri ck/mortar as well as the tensile strength of mortar. These studies als o show that, although initial cracking occurs under horizontal tensile forces, the ultimate strength of the panel is higher in this directio n than in the vertical direction.