Computational homogenization of masonry using the finite-volume direct averaging micromechanics theory

Resumo

This paper presents a study focused on determining effective elastic properties of masonry made up of bricks and mortar joints arranged in periodic arrays. The brick and mortar are treated as linear elastic materials, with a bond pattern consisting of stacked bond and running bond. The overall effective elastic moduli are evaluated by a computational unit cell-based micromechanical procedure. The formulation employs a discretization of the masonry unit cell which is examined using the finite-volume direct averaging micromechanics theory (FVDAM). The homogenization approaches are carried out considering plane stress (PS) and generalized plane strain (GPS) states, as well as a tridimensional version of the FVDAM theory (3D-FVDAM). The results provided by these three conditions of analysis (PS, GPS, 3D-FVDAM) are compared in order to verify their limitations and applicability in the elastic homogenization of periodic masonry with different geometric features.