Limit analysis of masonry structures based on discrete elements E.A.W. Maunder School of Engineering, University of Exeter, Ezefer E%4 ^QF, [W ABSTRACT A simple method of analysis is presented forthe assessment of limit loads of masonry structures. The analysis is based on the use of discrete elements, and constraints on interface tractions to form a linear programme with load factors as objective functions. Numerical examples are given when the method isapplied to a masonry arch to asses its sensitivity to material degradation. INTRODUCTION Comprehensive finite element methods have been developed for masonry arches which enable incremental non-linear elasto-plastic analyses to fol- low behaviour through to collapse e.g. Crisfield [1]. However such methods are computationally expensive, and raise questions concerning the validity of the elasto-plastic assumptions for masonry. Doubts about the wisdom of relying totally on such methods have also been raised by Harvey [2]. At the other end of the computational spectrum plastic methods for ma- sonry arches have been propounded by Heyman [3]. These are based on analysing collapse mechanisms involving "plastic hinge" concepts with zero tensile strengths but large compressive strengths. This method has been adapted by Harvey [4] to account for low compressive strengths us- ing the concept of zones of thrust. Other modes of failure such as slip between the voussoirs are not considered, and the extension of plastic hinge mechanisms to more general forms of masonry "continua" are not appropriate. It is proposed in this paper to define a simple discrete element method for finding limit loads of general forms of masonry structure when tractions between blocks of stone are limited to prescribedvalues, and displacements Transactions on the Built Environment vol 4, © 1993 WIT Press, www.witpress.com, ISSN 1743-3509
Limit analysis of masonry structures based on discrete elements
Jun 14, 2023
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