Finite element prediction of masonry compressive strength

Abstract A finite element program developed for the purpose of predicting the ultimate compressive strength of masonry is described. The local failure criteria included in the program are brick tensile strength, mortar tensile strength, brick-mortar interface bond tensile strength and brick-mortar interface shear strength. In addition the non-linear elastic behaviour of the mortar is accounted for. The program is structured so that all the failure criteria and the non-linearity of the mortar are considered at each iteration. Simultaneous consideration of all the criteria produces very considerable computer time savings when compared with the approach of considering each criteria separately in turn in a nested loop structure. An experimental programme carried out for the purpose of validating the finite element program is described. In the programme three pairs of masonry wallettes were subjected to three patterns of compressive loading. The wallettes were built using half scale bricks. When the finite element program was used to predict the ultimate compressive strength of the wallettes, it was found that the program generally produced results in good agreement with the experimental results.