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Load Carrying Capacity of Brick Masonry Dome in Mud Mortar

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In this paper the results of an experimental investigation carried out to determine the load carrying capacity of brick masonry dome in mud mortar is reported. Dome has been constructed without using formwork. Dome of span 3m, thickness 0.075m, and central rise 0.6m has been considered in the study. The entire outer surface of the dome was subjected to uniformly distributed load of upto an intensity of 2.845kN/sq m. Further more, the dome was also subjected to partial uniformly distributed load around the crown upto an angle of α = 6.309 degree measured from the crown.
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... In published literature, researchers have frequently resorted to destructive experiments to determine the load carrying capacity of masonry structures. Ref. [39] conducted a load-to-failure test on a scaled dome model built with brick and mud mortar. Deflections of the dome were measured as a function of the uniformly distributed load applied evenly on the dome and simultaneously, propagation of meridional cracks was recorded. ...
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In this manuscript, the authors present a combined experimental and numerical study that empirically links measured vibration response characteristics to the remaining load carrying capacity of a masonry dome as the structure is gradually damaged with discrete and distributed cracks. First, the three-dimensional, nonlinear finite element model of the dome is calibrated using both nondestructive vibration response measurements and destructive load displacement tests. The gradual development of major, discrete cracks is simulated by introducing a mesh discontinuity, while the development of minor, distributed cracks is incorporated by the inherent smeared cracking capability of the finite elements. The calibrated numerical model is used to estimate degradation in both the strength and stiffness of the dome, indicated by a reduction of the load carrying capacity, and by the reduction in natural frequencies, respectively. An empirical function is trained to link the reduction in natural frequencies (a quantity related to stiffness that is feasibly measurable), and the remaining load carrying capacity (a quantity related to strength that is not feasibly measurable) for spherical domes. This empirical relationship is generalized for spherical domes with different span-to-height ratios.
... The published literature has approached the study of masonry through both experimental and numerical studies. Researchers have conducted various experimental campaigns, including full-scale (Abrams 1988; Laefer 2001; Valluzzi and Modena 2001), component (Gabor et al. 2006; Garbin et al. 2009; Maheri et al. 2011), destructive (Page 1995; Boothby et al. 1995; Lau 2006; Balaji and Sarangapini 2007), and nondestructive tests (Armstrong et al. 1995; Salawu and Williams 1995; Aoki et al. 2004; Gentile and Saisi 2007). However, these experimental observations are limited to the conditions under which the tests are completed, making it necessary to conduct a new set of experiments each time there is a need to study a different condition, such as different loading or boundary conditions (Zucchini and Lourenço 2002). ...
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Understanding the damage and failure mechanisms of masonry structures can help engineers reduce catastrophic failures and facilitate effective restoration and preservation of historical masonry monuments. This can be achieved through a combination of experimental and numerical studies to gain insights on the macro-level strength-deformation behavior and micro-level defects and crack growth of masonry structures. While experiments aid in calibration and validation of the numerical model to reduce errors and uncertainties in predictions, the success of the simulations fundamentally depends upon the accuracy of the mechanical principles used to represent the heterogeneous masonry assembly. In this paper, three modeling techniques, detailed micro-modeling, simplified micro-modeling and macro-modeling are investigated considering not only the accuracy but also the robustness of the model predictions. In the detailed micro-modeling, the brick units and mortar joints are modeled as separate entities. In the simplified micro-modeling, the bricks and mortar are smeared, homogenized units bonded with zero-thickness interface elements; in the macro-modeling, the masonry composites are smeared into a homogenous continuum. Linear properties of these three alternative models are first calibrated by exploiting the modal parameters identified through dynamic experiments conducted on a scaled dome specimen in the laboratory. The fidelity of the two micro-modeling and the macro-modeling techniques are then evaluated by comparing the model predictions against static, load-to-failure tests conducted on the same scaled masonry dome. Finally, the robustness of the three models to uncertainty in the input parameters is evaluated.
... In published literature, researchers have frequently resorted to destructive experiments to determine the load carrying capacity of masonry structures. Ref. [39] conducted a load-to-failure test on a scaled dome model built with brick and mud mortar. Deflections of the dome were measured as a function of the uniformly distributed load applied evenly on the dome and simultaneously, propagation of meridional cracks was recorded. ...
Article
Full-text available
Understanding the damage and failure mechanisms of masonry structures can help engineers reduce catastrophic failures and facilitate effective restoration and preservation of historical masonry monuments. This can be achieved through a combination of experimental and numerical studies to gain insights on the macrolevel strength-deformation behavior and microlevel defects and crack growth of masonry structures. Although experiments aid in calibration and validation of the numerical model to reduce errors and uncertainties in predictions, the success of the simulations fundamentally depends on the accuracy of the mechanical principles used to represent the heterogeneous masonry assembly. In this paper, three modeling techniquesdetailed micromodeling, simplified micromodeling, and macromodelingare investigated, considering not only the accuracy but also the robustness of the model predictions. In detailed micromodeling, the brick units and mortar joints are modeled as separate entities. In simplified micromodeling, the bricks and mortar are smeared, homogenized units bonded with zero-thickness interface elements. In macromodeling, the masonry composites are smeared into a homogenous continuum. Linear properties of these three alternative models are first calibrated by exploiting the modal parameters identified through dynamic experiments conducted on a scaled dome specimen in the laboratory. The fidelity of the two micromodeling and the macromodeling techniques are then evaluated by comparing the model predictions against static, load-to-failure tests conducted on the same scaled masonry dome. Finally, the robustness of the three models to uncertainty in the input parameters is evaluated.
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