Limit states for brick masonry based on homogenization approach

In this paper, a procedure is developed for assessing the strength of brick masonry based on homogenization theory. The approach invokes a lower bound analysis whereby plastically admissible stress fields are constructed in the constituents involved, subject to periodic boundary conditions and static equilibrium requirements. The critical load is obtained by solving a constrained optimization problem. The analysis employs a set of specific loading histories such as axial tension, pure shear and biaxial tension–compression at different orientations of bed joints. The performance of this approach is verified against numerical solutions based on finite element analysis. In the second part of this paper, a methodology is outlined for identification of a macroscopic failure criterion that incorporates a critical plane approach. A quantitative verification of this criterion is carried out for different loading conditions and the results are compared with the experimental data available in the literature.     

Stress analysis of masonry vaults and static efficacy of FRP repairs

In the paper, the basic principles for the analysis of structures made by Not-Resisting-Tension (NRT) material are introduced; the theory is then applied for investigating the static behaviour of a NRT masonry arch model and to test the effect of reinforcements made by FRP strips of variable length. A wide experimental campaign is developed and numerical/experimental comparison is provided in order to evaluate the skill of the adopted model in capturing the real behaviour of the structure with or without reinforcement.     

Limit analysis of anisotropic soils using finite elements and linear programming

The main purpose of this paper is to present a finite element formulation of the bound theorems which allows for the variation of soil strength with direction. To achieve this objective, the conventional isotropic Mohr-Coulomb yield criterion is generalised to include the effect of strength anisotropy. The finite element limit analysis formulation using the modified anisotropic yield criterion is then developed. Several examples are given in the paper to illustrate the capability and effectiveness of the proposed numerical procedure for computing rigorous bounds for anisotropic soils.     

基于压电曲壳单元的结构振动最优控制

曲壳结构已广泛应用于航空航天、航海等领域,结构微小的振动会极大地影响部件性能,抑制曲壳结构的振动就很必要。提出了压电曲壳结构的振动最优控制模型,利用空间曲壳单元理论及多点约束方程实现曲壳基结构壳元和压电壳元的耦合,推导了压电曲壳结构动力学有限元方程,并结合线性二次型最优控制理论,实现了压电作动器对曲壳结构的振动最优控制。数值算例表明,对曲壳结构进行动力分析和振动控制时,在达到同样精度及控制效果的情况下,与平壳相比,曲壳单元及作动器所需数目要少得多。     

Limit analysis of masonry structures with free discontinuities

We formulate a novel procedure for the limit analysis of two-dimensional masonry structures subject to arbitrary loading conditions. The proposed approach works in the framework of free discontinuity methods, on examining collapse mechanisms that exhibit free crack opening discontinuities. The load bearing capacity and the collapse mechanism of the structure are obtained through a fully variational approach, by minimizing a kinetic functional that admits the collapse crack pattern as a variable. Numerical examples illustrate the practical application of the proposed procedure to the limit analysis of a variety of masonry walls and arches subject to foundation settlements, vertical and horizontal forces.     

Potential flow analysis by finite elements

Summary A finite element formulation is developed for the analysis of a general discontinuous potential field (with multiply connected regions) and leads to the solution of the Dirichlet, Neumann and Mixed Boundary Value Problems. Subcritical compressibility effects are included. The finite element model is presented in detail for the two-dimensional and axisymmetric case, but may readily be extended to the general three-dimensional case. For the representation of general boundary conditions (linear interdependencies between the unknown variables) two alternative methods are formulated. Several typical examples including compressibility, circulatory (lifting) flow and the analysis of infinite cascades demonstrate the wide applicability and accuracy of the method.

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Übersicht Für die Berechnung von allgemeinen diskontinuierlichen Potentialfeldern mit mehrfach zusammenhängenden Bereichen wird eine Formulierung für die Methode der finiten Elemente entwickelt. Dies führt zur einfachen Lösung von Randwertproblemen erster, zweiter und dritter Art, wobei auch Kompressibilitätseffekte im unterkritischen Bereich berücksichtigt werden können. Ein Finite-Element-Typ wird im Detail für den zweidimensionalen und rotationssymmetrischen Fall abgeleitet, jedoch kann die Darstellung leicht auf den allgemeinen dreidimensionalen Fall ausgedehnt werden. Für die Verwirklichung allgemeiner Randbedingungen (d. h. Berücksichtigung von linear abhängigen unbekannten Variablen) werden zwei Methoden formuliert.Mehrere typische Beispiele, welche Kompressibilität, Auftrieb und die Berechnung unendlicher Kaskadenströmung behandeln, zeigen dic Vielfalt der Anwendungsmöglichkeiten und die Genauigkeit der Methode.

     

Cosserat model for periodic masonry deduced by nonlinear homogenization

The paper deals with the problem of the determination of the in-plane behavior of periodic masonry material. The macromechanical equivalent Cosserat medium, which naturally accounts for the absolute size of the constituents, is derived by a rational homogenization procedure based on the Transformation Field Analysis. The micromechanical analysis is developed considering a Cauchy model for masonry components. In particular, a linear elastic constitutive relationship is considered for the blocks, while a nonlinear constitutive law is adopted for the mortar joints, accounting for the damage and friction phenomena occurring during the loading history. Some numerical applications are performed on a Representative Volume Element characterized by a selected commonly used texture, without performing at this stage structural analyses. A comparison between the results obtained adopting the proposed procedure and a nonlinear micromechanical Finite Element Analysis is presented. Moreover, the substantial differences in the nonlinear behavior of the homogenized Cosserat material model with respect to the classical Cauchy one, are illustrated.     

Nonlinear finite element analysis of no-tension masonry structures

A numerical approach for structural analysis of masonry walls in plane stress conditions is presented. The assumption of a perfectly no-tension material (NTM) constitutive model, whose relevant equations are in the form of classical rate-independent associated flow laws of elastoplastic material, allows one to adopt numerical procedures commonly used in computational plasticity. An accuracy analysis on the integration algorithm employed in the solution of constitutive relations has been carried out. The results obtained for some relevant case-studies and their comparison with data, available in the literature show the effectiveness of the proposed method.

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Sommario Si presenta un approccio numerico per l'analisi strutturale di pareti in muratura in stato piano di tensione. L'assunzione di un modello costitutivo per materiale perfettamente non resistente a trazione (NTM), le cui equazioni sono esprimibili nella classica forma incrementale delle leggi dello scorrimento plastico di tipo associato per materiali elastoplastici, consente di adottare procedure numeriche comunemente utilizzate in plasticità computazionale. Si conduce un'analisi di accuratezza dell'algoritmo utilizzato nell'integrazione delle equazioni costitutive del modello esaminato. I risultati ottenuti per alcuni casi analizzati ed il confronto effettuato con esempi riportati in letteratura mostrano l'efficienza dell'approccio proposto.

     

Geometrical non-linear analysis of structures by finite elements

Meccanica - The paper shows a comprehensive analysis of geometrically non linear structural problems by the finite element method. The theoretical approach is based on a variational principle...     

Free-form shell analysis by a mixed-hybrid finite element approach

Summary A novel finite element scheme is proposed for the linear elasto-static analysis of free-form thinwalled shells. On the basis of a modified version of the variational theorem due to Hellinger and Reissner, a doubly curved triangular element is developed with six degrees-of-freedom (three translations plus three rotations) per nodal point. For each element, separate trial functions are introduced in order to approximate the displacements and the stress resultants. It is shown that by properly choosing these interpolants, an element is obtained which (i) is capable of exactly representing the rigid body and constant strain modes; (ii) does not possess any spurious kinematic modes; (iii) fulfils C ¹ interelement continuity and (iv) satisfies exactly the interior domain static equilibrium conditions. Two representative examples have been solved in order to illustrate the advantages of the proposed scheme over existing ones.

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Berechnung dünnwandiger elastischer Schalen mit Hilfe eines gemischt-hybriden Finite-Element-Verfahrens

Übersicht Die vorliegende Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit der numerischen Berechnung des linearen Trag- und Deformationsverhaltens dünnwandiger Schalentragwerke beliebiger Geometrie. Auf der Grundlage eines modifizierten Funktionals vom Typ Hellinger/Reissner wird ein doppeltgekrümmtes Dreieckselement mit insgesamt achtzehn Freiheitsgraden entwickelt. Im Vergleich mit existierenden Elementen zeichnet sich das hier vorgeschlagene dadurch aus, daß es (i) keine fiktiven Kinematikzustände (spurious modes) besitzt; (ii) in der Lage ist, Starrkörperzustände sowie Zustände konstanter Verzerrungen exakt darzustellen; (iii) einen C ¹-stetigen Verschiebungsverlauf an den Zwischenelementrändern garantiert, und (iv) die a-priori-Erfüllung der Gleichgewichtsbedingungen im Elementinneren gewährleistet. Eine Vielzahl von ausgesuchten Testbeispielen sind mit Hilfe des hier vorgestellten Elementeverfahrens gerechnet worden, um sein Konvergenzverhalten sowie seine Zuverlässigeit zu überprüfen. Einige charakteristische Resultate werden im Schlußteil der Arbeit präsentiert.

     

New spatial curved beam and cylindrical shell elements of gradient-deficient Absolute Nodal Coordinate Formulation

Based on previous studies, a new spatial curved slender-beam finite element and a new cylindrical shell finite element are proposed in the frame of gradient-deficient Absolute Nodal Coordinate Formulation (ANCF). The strain energy of the beam element is derived by using the definition of the Green?CLagrange strain tensor in continuum mechanics so that the assumption on small strain can be relaxed. By using the differential geometry and the continuum mechanics, the angle between two base vectors of a defined local coordinate frame of the cylindrical shell element is introduced into the strain energy formulations. Therefore, the new shell element can be used to model parallelogram shells. The analytical formulations of elastic forces and their Jacobian for the above two finite elements of gradient-deficient ANCF are also derived via the skills of tensor analysis. The generalized-alpha method is used to solve the huge set of system equations. Finally, four case studies including both static and dynamic problems are given to validate the proposed beam and cylindrical shell elements of gradient-deficient ANCF.     

Strength domain of non-periodic masonry by homogenization in generalized plane state

This paper deals with the evaluation of the strength domain for non-periodic masonry using a random media micromechanical approach. The generalized plane state formulation is used in order to more accurately describe the masonry behavior and failure criteria proposed in literature. Considering the masonry as a heterogeneous material with random microstructure, the elastic characteristics of the homogenized continuum and the strength domain are evaluated by using the hierarchy theory related to partitions with increasing dimensions through the application of natural and essential boundary conditions with proportionally growing values. An overall failure criterion based on the mean stress state of each phase is introduced. The proposed procedure is validated by comparison with the experimental results obtained with periodic masonry subjected to biaxial stress states recovering the main failure mechanisms. Then the approach is applied to an actual non-periodic masonry introducing peculiar algorithms in order to evaluate strength surfaces and to verify the convergence of the domains obtained through the application of natural and essential boundary conditions with the increasing size of portion dimensions at the mesoscale level.     

High-order triangular finite element for shell analysis

A curved-shell finite element of triangular shape is described which is based on conventional shell theory expressed in terms of surface coordinates and displacements Each of the three surface displacement components is independently represented by a two-dimensional polynomial of constrained-quintic order giving the element a total of 54 degrees of freedom. Two particular geometric forms of the element are considered, viz. doubly-curved shallow and circular cylindrical. The high level of accuracy which can be achieved using few elements is demonstrated in a range of problems where comparison is made with previous finite element solutions.     

General stress analysis method by means of integral equations and boundary elements

Summary This paper concerns an integral equation method for the numerical solution of the linear problems of elasticity of the homogeneous continuum. The mathematical form adopted is sufficiently general to refer to both plane and three dimensional analysis as well as to analysis of plates and specialized axisymmetric cases.Having indirectly deduced the integral equations, the resolving procedure is based on variational principles and uses a convenient discretization of the boundary through the use of finite elements.Particular attention is given to the definition of the asymptotic conditions of the elementary displacement field to theoretically ensure a priori the conditioning of the resolving algebraic equations without any restriction as regards the nature of the boundary and the conditions thereby imposed.Efficiency, praticality and flexibility of use are characteristics particular of this method and have already been widely tested by the author in varying applications. Further information on the above can be found in the bibliography cited.

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Sommario Nella presente memoria si delinea un metodo di calcolo fondato sulle equazioni integrali per la soluzione numerica dei problemi lineari di elasticità del continuo omogeneo. La veste matematica adottata é sufficientemente generale perché possa riferirsi all'analisi sia dello stato triplo sia dello stato piano di deformazione o di tensione, come pure all'analisi delle lastre e dei casi specializzati assialsimmetrici.Dedotte per via indiretta le equazioni integrali, il procedimento risolutivo è fondato su principi variazionali e si avvale di una conveniente discretizzazione del contorno mediante elementi finiti.Particolare attenzione è rivolta a definire le condizioni asintotiche dei campi elementari di spostamento al fine di assicurare teoricamente a priori il condizionamento delle equazioni algebriche risolventi, senza alcuna restrizione per quanto riguarda la natura del contorno e le condizioni ivi imposte.L'efficienza, la praticità e la flessibilità d'impiego sono caratteristiche peculiari del metodo, per altro già ampiamente collaudato dall'autore in diverse applicazioni di cui possono trovarsi notizie nella bibliografia citata.

     

Meshless meso-modeling of masonry in the computational homogenization framework

In the present study a multi-scale computational strategy for the analysis of structures made-up of masonry material is presented. The structural macroscopic behavior is obtained making use of the Computational Homogenization (CH) technique based on the solution of the Boundary Value Problem (BVP) of a detailed Unit Cell (UC) chosen at the mesoscale and representative of the heterogeneous material. The attention is focused on those materials that can be regarded as an assembly of units interfaced by adhesive/cohesive joints. Therefore, the smallest UC is composed by the aggregate and the surrounding joints, the former assumed to behave elastically while the latter show an elastoplastic softening response. The governing equations at the macroscopic level are formulated in the framework of Finite Element Method (FEM) while the Meshless Method (MM) is adopted to solve the BVP at the mesoscopic level. The material tangent stiffness matrix is evaluated at both the mesoscale and macroscale levels for any quadrature point. Macroscopic localization of plastic bands is obtained performing a spectral analysis of the tangent stiffness matrix. Localized plastic bands are embedded into the quadrature points area of the macroscopic finite elements. In order to validate the proposed CH strategy, numerical examples relative to running bond masonry specimens are developed.