Modeling the dynamic behaviour of masonry walls as rigid blocks

Abstract

This paper addresses the numerical modeling of masonry walls as rigid blocks. Models based on rigid block assemblies provide a suitable frame work for understanding their dynamic behavior under seismic actions. In this context, the problem is primarily concerned with Rocking Motion dynamics. The numerical tool is based on the Discrete Element Method (DEM) specially effective for the numerical modeling of rigid blocks. Some authors have been used successfully the DEM in the study of block structures. However, they have used experimental test to calibrate their models and to obtain the parameters used in the DEM; because these parameters cannot be obtained directly form the characteristics of the stones. In this context, a new methodology is proposed to find the parameters of the DEM by using the parameters of the classical theory. Special attention regards about the damping factor, since in the DEM a viscous damping is considered, but in reality the damping is due to impulsive forces that they can be considered as a type of Dirac-б forces. An extensive comparison between numerical and experimental data has been carried out to verified the proposed methodology. Very good agreement between the numerical model and experimental data is achieved.