Finite Element Analysis Of Masonry Structures and Experimental Verification

Abstract

Although in the 20th century masonry was displaced for many applications by steel and concrete, it has still maintained its importance for load bearing walls in low & medium rise buildings and for internal walls of the buildings. In masonry buildings vertical loads do not cause much problem, but lateral loads produce critical stresses in the building. Hence analysis of building under the effect of lateral loads needs special consideration in design of such building. Therefore it is essential to modify the currently used conventional method for analysis of masonry building as well as to provide adequate earthquake resistance to it. Two-dimensional and Three-dimensional finite element models are proposed to predict non-linear behavior of masonry structure when it is subjected to static loading. This Major Project contains the details of behavior of masonry material when it is subjected to static as well as dynamic loadings. The project also contains the information about two dimensional finite element analysis of G+3 building situated at Mandal, Kutch, Gujarat using 4-noded plate element in ‘Ansys software’ and comparison of the results of Ansys with the results of analysis of the same building using conventional static analysis approach. For the conventional static analysis of the building, an exclusive C++ program is prepared. Three dimensional finite element modeling of single storey masonry building is prepared using Ansys software by considering flexible as well as rigid diaphragm actions for the slab and results of both the analysis phenomenon are compared. A C++ program for two dimensional finite element analysis of a masonry wall is prepared. The results obtained in terms of various stresses from this program are compared with the results of Ansys software. Parametric study on masonry units is included. In this study, wall thickness, reinforcement diameters & reinforcement heights are considered as variables for analysis of masonry units. Two separate masonry units have been constructed as per Indian standard specifications on Shock Table platform and their comparative performance has been evaluated by conducting the Shock Table test. For understanding the behavior of the models under the effect of static loading, observations of crack patterns are made. After the completion of the test, the results of shock table test are compared with results obtained by Ansys in terms of stresses and crack patterns.