Numerical simulation of behavior of masonry mechanics made with ecological bricks

Resumo

Soil-cement brick masonry structures have gained prominence in developing countries due to their practicality, low cost and excellent ecologically sustainable alternative. However, the literature presents few numerical studies on masonry structures in soil-cement bricks, since most of the studies carried out focus on concrete and ceramic bricks. Therefore, in this work, the finite element model of a small wall made of soil-cement brick with structural masonry mortar joints, subjected to compression, is calibrated. The experimental analysis of these small walls was conducted at the Laboratory for Experimental Analysis of Structures at the Federal University of Minas Gerais, and the experimental results are used to calibrate the numerical simulation. The numerical model was developed in the finite element program ABAQUS CAE. A detailed micromodeling strategy was adopted, that is, the models were developed considering the individual representation of bricks and mortars, in addition to the interface between the materials. Using the proposed finite element model, a numerical investigation was conducted to verify the validation of the model concerning experimental investigations. The present study allowed us to adequately replicate the concentration of damage in the bricks, corroborating what was observed in the experimental tests.