Quasi-analytical homogenization approach for the non-linear analysis of in-plane loaded masonry panels

A simple holonomic compatible homogenization approach for the non-linear analysis of masonry walls in-plane loaded is presented. The elementary cell (REV) is discretized with 24 triangular elastic constant stress elements (bricks) and non-linear interfaces (mortar). A holonomic behavior with softening is assumed for mortar joints. It is shown how the mechanical problem in the unit cell is characterized by very few displacement variables and how the homogenized stress-strain behaviour can be evaluated semi-analytically. At a structural level, it is therefore not necessary to solve a FE homogenization problem at each load step in each Gauss point. Non-linear structural analyses are carried out on a windowed shear wall, for which experimental and numerical data are available in the literature, with the aim of showing how quite reliable results may be obtained with a limited computational effort.