Homogenization of Masonry Wall using Sensitivity Analysis

Though masonry buildings are most impacted during earthquakes, and the construction of masonry structure cannot be completely avoided in all part of the earth, there is no proper study regarding the behavior of masonry structure regarding seismic performance analysis and design. Detailed analysis of masonry structures requires a detailed micro-modeling technique using finite element method which requires complex calculation and numerous parameters for analysis. In this paper, an approximated simplified finite element computational technique for non-linear analysis of masonry wall is proposed using sensitivity analysis for the flow parameter of masonry wall using a macro-modeling approach in which the masonry unit and mortar are homogenized into a single panel. An experimental wall in which the nonlinear analysis was performed was considered and numerical simulation using a macro-modeling approach is performed with the experimental properties in ABAQUS Software. With making numerical model, tensile and compressive stress-strain curve were obtained which were used to prepare concrete damage plasticity model for the modelling of masonry wall. The sensitivity analysis was performed for the determination of viscosity parameter and dilation angle. The model is prepared and run with various changing values of viscosity parameter and the one that matches with the experimental result was selected. In the same way, the model is prepared for various changing values of dilation angle and the one that matches with the experimental result was selected. The final model was prepared with the values of dilation angle and viscosity parameters thus prepared and the nonlinear force displacement relation was obtained. Thus obtained, non-linear force displacement curve is compared with the actual experimental force-displacement curve.