Micromechanical modeling of brick-masonry fracture

This paper presents a micromechanical model for the analysis of mode I frac ture of brick masonry. The analysis is based on a detailed modeling of bric k and mortar fracture by means of the fictitious (or cohesive) crack model. Fracture properties for brick and mortar are first independently determine d by specific tests and then are input to a numerical model in which bricks and mortar joints are treated separately. The composite fracture model obt ained in this way can accurately predict the fracture of masonry panels. (C ) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.