Title: On the shape optimisation of the force networks of masonry structures

Authors: Giuseppe Rocchetta; Mariella De Piano; Valentino Paolo Berardi; Fernando Fraternali

Addresses: Department of Civil Engineering, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084 Fisciano SA, Italy ' Department of Civil Engineering, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084 Fisciano SA, Italy ' Department of Civil Engineering, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084 Fisciano SA, Italy ' Department of Civil Engineering, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084 Fisciano SA, Italy

Abstract: A novel lumped stresses network approach for the analysis of the mechanical behaviour of masonry structures is presented. It is formulated through a network of lumped stresses, making use of polyhedral stress functions and a variational approximation of the continuous equilibrium problem. The proposed method allows for modelling masonry structures as no-tension elements and gives, in the case of curved masonry members, the optimised surface through a predictor-corrector procedure and the stress function describing the membrane stress. The given approach offers a useful tool for predicting the crack pattern of unreinforced masonry structures and the associated stress fields. It is validated against some benchmark case studies dealing with a hemispherical dome, a groin vault, a cloister vault and a masonry beam.

Keywords: lumped stress approach; masonry structures; no-tension model; polyhedral stress function; crack pattern; mesh adaption.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMRI.2019.096825

International Journal of Masonry Research and Innovation, 2019 Vol.4 No.1/2, pp.78 - 96

Published online: 11 Dec 2018 *

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