Influence of the Spatial Variability of Joints Characteristics on the Elastic Properties of Masonry

Abstract

Brick masonry is a multicomponent composite material, characterized by a marked inhomogeneity, a highly anisotropic behavior arising from the complex interactions between joints and bricks, and a considerable spatial variability of material properties, particularly relevant in the case of historical masonries. The focus of this paper is on the interdependence between the spatial variability of mechanical properties of joints and the overall homogenized response of a given volume element of masonry. It is assumed that mechanical properties of bed joints may vary according to a fixed probability distribution and correlation function and the mechanical response of the volume element is investigated in terms of the overall elastic stiffness. As confirmed by preliminary results, the spatial variability of the mechanical properties may affect the overall response of a masonry wall.

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