A numerical study of non structural masonry walls with bed joint reinforcement subject to flexure

Abstract

This paper presents a numerical investigation of a non structural small masonry wall submitted to a flexion effort in its plan and constructed with ceramic blocks. The effort is due to an excessive deformation of the structural elements. The small walls of ceramic blocks (named here mini-walls) were analyzed under two different situations: without bed joint reinforcement (for reference) and with bed joint reinforcement. In order to evaluate the improvement of structural performance with the proposed strengthening (reinforcement masonry walls) the arrows were measured in the middle of the mini-walls, cracking degree and the steel bars deformation. The program employed to carry out the numerical analyses was DIANA (version 9.1), that uses Finet Element Method (FEM). The strategy adopted was macromodelling and non linear phisical behaviour. The results obtained from the numerical research proved that masonry walls with bed joint showed an increased load at first cracking, better performance in service, increased capacity and more resistant arrow at break. Improvements also in relation to the ultimate limit state, which indicates that it is profit and that bed joint reinforcement can be used in non structural and structural mansory walls.