A Micromechanical Approach To The Damage OfThe Masonry Material

In the present paper a simple damage model for masonry material is presented. The masonry is considered as a composite material realized by the inclusion of bricks into the matrix of mortar. Some fundamental concepts of the homogenization theory are used to define the overall moduli of the uncracked and cracked masonry. The fractures are supposed to develope only into the matrix, while the bricks are considered indefinitely elastic. Then, in order to define the kinetic law of the damage evolution a simple criterion is proposed. Finally, the behavior of a typical masonry material is studied.