3D advanced numerical modelling of a catalan-layered masonry vault unreinforced and reinforced with glass-TRM materials and subjected to vertical support movements

This paper presents the numerical results obtained simulating a 4x4mq masonry vault (unreinforced and reinforced with glass-TRM) tested at the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia (Spain). The vault was built using a traditional Catalan layered-construction technique and its structural behavior was analyzed when subjected to monotonic vertical displacements in one of its supports. The geometry and construction technique of the vault resembled those in a church on the outskirts of Valencia, which collapsed probably due to soil settlements. Indeed, due to their peculiar geometric and mechanical features, these structures are especially prone to damage from support movements produced by ground settlements or earthquakes. Two advanced 3D numerical models were developed using the commercial software Abaqus to study the vault response with and without the application of an extrados layer of lime based TRM strengthening material. The FE software allowed the adoption of a concrete damage plasticity (CDP) material model which was employed to both masonry support and TRM strengthening material, after a preliminary tuning of the compressive and tensile mechanical properties of the constituent materials. The outputs obtained with the FE models coupled with the results of the tests, provided valuable information to the scientific community on the available modelling strategies to be used to evaluate the behavior of ancient masonry double-curvature structures pre-damaged by vertical movements of the vault supports and repaired with TRM materials.