Author(s)

M. Lucchesi, C. Padovani & N. Zani

Abstract

This paper proposes a constitutive equation for masonry-like materials with bounded compressive strength. Successively a numerical method is proposed in order to solve the equilibrium problem of masonry-like solids with bounded compressive strength. In particular the derivative of the stress with respect to the total strain is calculated; this derivative will be used for calculating the tangent stiffness matrix and then for solving the non-linear system, obtained with the discretisation into finite elements via the Newton-Raphson method. Finally this numerical method is applied to the study of a three-dimensional circular reduced arch subjected to its own weight and a vertical load distributed along the extrados. 1 Introduction Studying equilibrium problems of masonry solids requires above all a suitable choice for the constitutive equation of the material. Sinc

Keywords