Analysis of Masonry Structures with DIANA

Masonry structures are modeled in DIANA at meso and macro level.

Meso-level model
At meso-level the bricks are modeled with continuum elements and the joints with interface
elements, according to the simplified approach outlined in Figure 1b. The brick behavior can
be described with an elastic or visco-elastic model, and the interface behavior can be
described by various models:
Discrete crack model
Coulomb friction model
Combined Coulomb friction/tension cut-off/compression cap model
User supplied subroutines
Mortar

Inte rface

Joint/Interface

Brick

Brick

Figure 1a: Detailed approach

Figure 1b: Simplified approach

Mortar

Inte rface

Joint/Interface

Plane stress
(visco-elastic) elements

Interface elements
Figure 2: Finite Element model

Discrete crack model

The constitutive law for discrete cracking in DIANA is based on total deformation theory,
which expresses the tractions in the interface elements as non-linear functions of the total
relative displacements, namely the crack width and the crack slip.
In general the normal traction is governed by a tension softening relation, which can be
Brittle
Linear softening, with unloading and reloading according to a secant or elastic
approach
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Non-linear softening (Hordijk et al.), with unloading and reloading according to a

secant, elastic or hysteresis approach.

The shear traction is reduced after cracking using a shear retention factor.
In the discrete crack model Mode I and Mode II are uncoupled. If coupling is required an
asymmetric crack dilatancy model can be used.
Crack dilatancy model (available only for 2D interface elements)
The crack dilatancy models available in DIANA are divided into 2 categories: empirical crack
models, and physical crack models.
The empirical crack models are based on experimental results and have an empirical
formulation. These models are:
Rough crack model of Baant and Gambarova
Rough crack model of Gambarova and Karako
Aggregate interlock relation according to Walraven and Reinhardt
The physical crack models are theoretical models, which take into account the shape of the
crack surface. These models are:
Two phase model proposed by Walraven
Contact density model proposed by Li et al.
Combined Coulomb friction/tension cut-off/compression cap model
This model is based on multi-surface plasticity, comprising a Coulomb friction model
combined with a tension cut-off and an elliptical compression cap. Softening acts in all three
modes and is preceded by hardening in the case of the cap mode.
This model is available for 2D and 3D. No three-dimensional compression cap is
implemented.
Mortar

Inte rface

Joint/Interface

Brick

Brick

Figure 3a: 2D model

Figure 3b: 3D model

User supplied subroutines

DIANA offers the user-supplied subroutines to specify a general non-linear behavior for
interface elements.

Macro-level model
At macro-level the masonry is modeled with continuum elements (Figure 4).
Mortar

Inte rface

Joint/Interface
Continuum elements

Figure 4: Finite Element model

The orthotropic nature of masonry can be modeled with the anisotropic Rankine-Hill
plasticity model, which allows orthotropic elasticity to be employed ad incorporates different
strength and degradation parameters to simulate the different behavior parallel and
perpendicular to bed joints in masonry.
The anisotropic Rankine-Hill plasticity model is available for 2D (plane stress).
Mortar

Inte rface

Joint/Interface

Brick

Brick

Figure5: Rankine-Hill model

Rate-dependent crack model
In DIANA it is possible to add a rate-dependent term to the anisotropic plasticity model.

Time-dependent crack behavior

In DIANA it is possible to include in the visco-elastic behavior of the masonry the effect of
shrinkage due to hydro and thermal effects. Coupling of hydro-thermal effects to mechanical
effects is unidirectional.
Shrinkage
The shrinkage laws available in DIANA are the discrete function and some Model Codes
models. In the discrete function, it is possible to specify the shrinkage strains as function of
the element age or the maturity. The Model Codes models are CEB-FIP Model Code 1990,
ACI 209 and NEN 6720.
The shrinkage strains can also be based in DIANA on a previous potential flow analysis.
Visco-elasticity
Three visco-elastic models are available in DIANA:
Power law
Maxwell chain
Kelvin chain
Power law
The power law model cannot be combined with a user-specified starting time. The influence
of temperature, concentration or maturity on visco-elasticity may be input directly or via a
user-supplied subroutine.
Maxwell and Kelvin chain
The parameters to be specified in the Maxwell chain are the number of chains and the
elasticity and the relaxation. In the Kelvin chain the elasticity and the viscosity. Elasticity can
be age and/or time dependent. DIANA can generate direct input from indirect input of
relaxation or creep curves.
cracking

bulk creep

hygral

thermal

shrinkage

Figure 6: Combined model

Case Study I:

Analysis of a shear wall with the combined Cracking-Shearing-Crushing

Model
=8.15 mm

Figure 10: Model lay-out

Figure 7: Model lay-out
The wall is 1.050 m wide and 0.85 m high, and has a opening of 0.21x0.30 m. The lower edge
of the wall is supported in the horizontal and vertical direction. The upper edge of the wall is
supported in the vertical direction. A horizontal displacement =8.15 mm is applied to the
node at the corner. By means of TYINGS, it is imposed that all nodes of the upper edge
move of the same quantity =8.15 mm in the horizontal direction.
The model is created with plane stress elements. The bricks are modeled with linear 4 nodes
elements (Q8MEM), and the joints with linear interface elements (L8IF). Each brick is
modeled with 8 plane stress elements and 2 interface elements, which allow possible vertical
cracks in the masonry units (see Figure 8).
masonry unit
interface elements
(8 Q8MEM)

Figure 8: Detail of the FE model

The adopted parameters are summarized in the tables below:

Elastic properties
Brick
E

[N/mm2]
17400
0.15

Joint
kn
[N/mm3]
10000

Inelastic properties
Tension
ft
Gf I
2
[N/mm ]
[N/mm]
0.25
0.018
Inelastic properties
Shear
tan
c
[N/mm2]
0.35
0.75

kt
[N/mm3]
1000

Cap
fc
[N/mm2]
8.5

tan

0.6

0.75

Cs
9.0

u
[N/mm2]
-1.3

kn
[N/mm3]
83

kt
[N/mm3]
36

Compression
Gfc
[N/mm]
5.0

kp
[mm]
0.093

[1/mm]
5.0

a
[mm]
0.0

b
[N/mm]
0.05

Where the symbols have the following meaning:

E

kn
kt
ft
GfI
fc
Cs
Gfc
kp
c

r
u

a, b

Youngs modulus
Poissons ratio
linear normal stiffness
linear tangential stiffness
tesile strength
fracture energy
compressive strength
factor that controls the shear traction contribute
compressive fracture energy
equivalent plastic relative displacement corresponding to the peak stress
cohesion
friction angle
dilatancy angle
residual friction coefficient
confining normal stress for which =0
exponential degradation coefficient of the dilatancy coefficient
factors in GfII=a+b

For a more detailed description of these parameters, please see Volume Material Library of
the DIANA manual.

Figure 9: Load-displacement diagram

Figure 10: Deformed shape at displacement =2.15 mm

Figure 11: Map of principal stress 1 at displacement =8.15 mm

Figure 12: Map of principal stress 2 at displacement =8.15 mm

Case Study II:

Analysis of a shear wall with the Rankine-Hill Model and Viscous Cracking
=4.25 mm

Figure 13: Model lay-out

The same wall as in the previous case study is analyzed by means of the Rankine-Hill model
and the viscous crack concept. The constraints are revised so that the top of the structure is
allowed to move vertically but is rigidly connected in the X a Y directions. The adopted
parameters are summarized in the tables below:
Elastic properties
E [N/mm2]
8000
Inelastic properties
Tension regime (Rankine)
ftx
fty
[N/mm2]
[N/mm2]
0.25
0.35
Inelastic properties
Compression regime (Hill)
fcx
fcy
[N/mm2]
[N/mm2]
8.5
8.5
Viscous parameters
mx
[N s/mm2]
10000

0.15

1.0

1.0

-1.0

3.0

gftx
[N/mm2]
0.00034

gfty
[N/mm2]
0.001

gfcx
[N/mm2]
15

gfcy
[N/mm2]
20

kp
0.0012

my
[N s/mm2]
10000

Where the symbols have the following meaning:

E
Youngs modulus

Poissons ratio
ftx, fty tensile strength in X and Y direction
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h
gftx, gfty
ftx, fty

kp
gfcx, gfcy

factor which determines the shear contribution to tensile failure

factor which relates the area of the finite element to the equivalent length
fracture energy in X and Y direction
compressive strength in X and Y direction
factor which couples the compressive stresses
factor which controls shear contribution to compressive failure
equivalent plastic strain corresponding to the peak compressive stress
fracture energy in X and Y direction

For a more detailed description of these coefficients, please see Volume Material Library of
the DIANA manual.

Figure 14: Load-displacement diagram

Figure 15: Deformed shape at displacement =4.25 mm

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Fi
gure 16: Map of principal stress 1 at displacement =4.25 mm

Figure 17: Map of principal stress 2 at displacement =4.25 mm

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