Masonry constructions: Mechanical models and numerical applications (Q925189)

Firstly, the authors provide a detailed description of the constitutive equation of masonry-like materials, clearly setting out its most important features. Since the numerical techniques for determining an approximate solution to the equilibrium problem make use of the tangent stiffness matrix, the derivative of the stress with respect to strain is calculated explicitly. These issues are taken up in Chapter 2 using some basic conceps of tensor algebra and analysis, which are summarized in Chapter 1. Chapter 3 describes the equilibrium problem of solids made of a masonry-like material and presents a proof of the uniqueness of solution in terms of stress. This result has been obtained under much more general hypotheses. Chapter 4 briefly describes a numerical method to solve the equilibrium problem. This method is implemented in COMES-NOSA, a finite element code developed at the Instituto di Scienza e Technologie dell'Informazione ``A. Faedo'' of the Italian National Research Council. Chapter 5 is devoted to masonry arches and vaults. Although the limit analysis of masonry structures is not dealt with in this book, some basic results are recalled, as they are used later to interpret the results of some numerical analyses. In Chapter 6 the authors first examine simple equilibrium problems whose explicit solutions are known, and compare these explicit solutions with numerical ones obtained via the COMES-NOSA code. The collapse load is calculated via numerical analysis by progressively increasing the load until convergence is not longer attainable. Finally, Chapter 7 presents some applications. Four appendices supplement the book. The numerical modeling yields essential information on the stress field and crack distributions, and enables to assess the effects of strengthening operations. Lastly, a vessel employed in the iron and steel industry is studied, and the behavior of the refractory material lining the metallic vessel is characterized.