Plane and vaulted masonry elements strengthened by different techniques - Testing, numerical modeling and nonlinear analysis

This paper presents numerical modeling and nonlinear analysis of unreinforced masonry walls and vaults externally strengthened by different techniques. The aim of the research is to provide a simple and reliable calculation method to enable the design and structural evaluation of strengthening measures for masonry plane and arched structures. Numerical modeling by finite elements and nonlinear analysis are carried out using commercial software ANSYS12.0. In order to validate the adopted approach, an experimental program was conducted where unreinforced brick masonry walls and vaults were strengthened by several techniques and loaded until failure. Comparison of experimental and numerical results showed acceptable agreement. Furthermore, a parametric study is conducted to investigate and compare several strengthening configurations for unreinforced masonry vault in order to select the optimum solution. The numerical results are discussed and the deduced conclusions illustrate the applicability of the proposed approach as a practical and valid tool for design of strengthening interventions for contemporary or historic masonry elements and assemblages.