Title: Nonlinear finite element modelling of high bond thin-layer mortared concrete masonry

Authors: J.A. Thamboo; M. Dhanasekar

Addresses: School of Civil Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Gardens Point Campus, 2 George Street, Brisbane 4000, QLD, Australia ' School of Civil Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Gardens Point Campus, 2 George Street, Brisbane 4000, QLD, Australia

Abstract: This paper presents a finite element technique for high bond strength, thin-layer mortared-masonry through material and interface modelling to simulate the behaviour of masonry. Constituent material blocks and mortar and their interfaces, affect the behaviour of masonry significantly. A finite element technique to represent these constituent materials and their interfaces is presented in this paper, and is shown that the technique predicts the behaviour of thin-layer mortared-concrete-masonry appropriately, and provides good insight into the failure characteristics of masonry under different loading conditions. The properties of the unit and the mortar are modelled using the principles of concrete damage plasticity, and the characteristics of the interfaces are modelled using the traction separation damage principles. The finite element model is applied to masonry subject to shear, flexure, compression and combined shear-compression. The numerical results are validated with experimental test results; good agreement is found. The predicted biaxial failure envelope of the high bond strength thin-layer mortared-concrete-masonry is presented.

Keywords: finite element method; interface modelling; masonry compression; material damage models; nonlinear FEM; high bond strength; thin-layer mortar; concrete masonry; simulation; masonry failure; concrete damage plasticity; traction separation damage; shear; flexure; shear-compression.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMRI.2016.074727

International Journal of Masonry Research and Innovation, 2016 Vol.1 No.1, pp.5 - 26

Received: 09 Apr 2015
Accepted: 15 Jun 2015
Published online: 16 Feb 2016 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article