NUMERICAL MODELING OF TALL STRUCTURAL MASONRY BUILDINGS: EVALUATION OF WALL-BEAM INTERACTION IN TRANSITION ZONES

Resumo

The classification of a building as tall is not solely related to the number of stories, but also to the influence of wind loads on structural stability. As the height of buildings using this construction system increases, the challenge of implementing solutions that satisfy the Ultimate Limit State (ULS) and the Serviceability Limit State (SLS) involves, among other factors, the mathematical modeling adopted, the structural design concept, the use of concrete or masonry lintels, and the strength of the available materials. However, traditional design methodologies are often unable to account for the wide range of building typologies and may produce inconsistent results. Moreover, commercial software generally does not provide integrated modeling that considers the arching effect. In this context, numerical modeling using the Finite Element Method (FEM) stands out as a valuable tool. This study aims to evaluate the internal forces acting on transition beams in tall structural masonry buildings. Three-dimensional numerical models were developed using FEM for two tall buildings, with and without flange length constraints, to analyze the distribution of vertical loads as well as wind-induced forces on the transition elements. Stress concentrations were observed in both models, along with the influence of wall quantity and positioning, and the impact of model stiffness on the structural responses obtained.