Title: Masonry arches simulations using cohesion parameter as code enrichment for limit analysis approach

Authors: Bledian Nela; Alejandro Jiménez Rios; Marco Pingaro; Emanuele Reccia; Patrizia Trovalusci

Addresses: Department of Structural and Geotechnical Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy ' Department of Structural and Geotechnical Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy ' Department of Structural and Geotechnical Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy ' Department of Civil Engineering, Environment and Architecture, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy ' Department of Structural and Geotechnical Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy

Abstract: Masonry structures are highly vulnerable to natural hazards, therefore both traditional and composite materials have been used as reinforcements to provide different solutions. Extensive effort is done to develop appropriate techniques of assessment, that usually demand an individualised methodology of analysis to be handled through comparative studies requiring results validation. A suitable field of study is the limit analysis approach towards masonry structures, as it offers quite accurate and, more importantly, robust results. Enrichment of a limit analysis homemade code with the inclusion of cohesion and frictional behaviour at the interface resolves, in a simplified but very robust manner, the perplexing issues involved with the numerical assessment of such structures with reference to arches. The cohesion incorporation is calibrated for a variety of in-plane applications simulating the strengthening measures. Results obtained are validated with literature results and included in a comparative study between discrete numerical models that utilise different strategies.

Keywords: limit analysis; friction; no-tension contacts; cohesion; reinforced masonry arches.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMRI.2024.135236

International Journal of Masonry Research and Innovation, 2024 Vol.9 No.1/2, pp.80 - 95

Received: 06 May 2022
Accepted: 22 Sep 2022
Published online: 03 Dec 2023 *

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