An equivalent beam method to model masonry buildings in 3D finite element analysis

The construction of shallow tunnels in urban environments may cause surface ground movements that are large enough to inflict structural damage on nearby buildings. A 3D finite element procedure to model these ground movements is proposed in which the structural behaviour of the building is represented by a mesh of elastic Timoshenko beams generated on the building footprint. This provides a model in which soil/structure interaction effects are included, but in which detailed modelling of any buildings on the ground surface is unnecessary. The method is illustrated with some example analyses.