Title: Wall structure finite-element by BEM coupling

Authors: Vincenzo Minutolo; Eugenio Ruocco

Addresses: Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile Design Edilizia Ambiente, Università degli Studi della Campania 'Luigi Vanvitelli', 81031 Aversa (CE), Italy ' Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile Design Edilizia Ambiente, Università degli Studi della Campania 'Luigi Vanvitelli', 81031 Aversa (CE), Italy

Abstract: The calculation of structures made of the assembly of several walls requires finite element modelling, henceforth, it gives raise to a large number of degrees of freedom. The actual work shows that the number of parameters is reduced by using boundary elements to derive the stiffness matrix of the element. The proposed technique gives origin to positive definite and symmetrical matrix due to the use of constant boundary elements. Moreover, the resulting matrix can be assembled together with finite element ones in order to obtain the description of complex three dimensional structures. Sub-structuring and multi region modelling are possible and continuity relaxation between elements as well as interface and nonlinear constitutive laws can be comprised. Some examples are reported in order to verify the accuracy and the feasibility of the procedure for the elastic case.

Keywords: boundary element; finite element; mixed coupling; masonry wall.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMRI.2019.096830

International Journal of Masonry Research and Innovation, 2019 Vol.4 No.1/2, pp.113 - 122

Published online: 11 Dec 2018 *

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