Modelagem de painéis de alvenaria submetidos a carregamento lateral utilizando elementos finitos de pórtico com seção transversal variável

Abstract

The behavior of masonry panels subjected to lateral loads is one of the main concerns during the project execution and may depend on several parameters such as panel aspect ratio, composite material properties and intensity of axial compressive load. This behavior can be analyzed by experimental and numerical tests that could be represented by the load versus lateral deflection curve. A simple way to obtain this curve numerically is to perform a finite element analysis considering the masonry wall as a one-dimensional element. Based on assumptions regarding the distribution of normal stresses, the panel can be discretized into frame elements whose geometric properties are obtained from the part of the cross section subjected to compression only. In the case of using finite elements of constant cross sections, good results are achieved only if the mesh becomes dense enough to accurately represent the change in geometric properties of the panel’s cross section. So, this work proposes a finite element with variable cross section, so that the number of elements included for a reliable solution can be reduced. The results of the proposed model are compared with experimental results available in the literature for various dimensions and material properties. Comparisons are also performed with highly discretized finite element models using constant cross-section and elements obtained by the power series method.