Modelo de elementos rigidos para el analisis de estructuras de mamposteria

The paper presents the formulation of a specific computational model for the in-plane structural analysis of masonry structures subjectedto cyclic loading. In this field, there is the need of models that are simplified enough to allow computation of real buildings, but should also account for the peculiar behaviour of the masonry material subjected to cyclic loadings that cause heavy mechanical degradation. Rigid elements are adopted, and in particular the elements are plane quadrilaterals connected to each other by two normal springs and one shear spring at each side. The mechanical characteristics of these connections are defined with attention to the description of brittle behaviour and mechanical degradation. A simplified phenomenological description is proposed for the cyclic behaviour of the masonry material out-of the linear elastic field, with different hysteretic laws for the axial and shear connections between rigid elements.