CLAY BLOCK PRISMS UNDER COMPRESSIVE LOADS: TESTINGAND MODELLING

This paper presents a comparison between the results of experimental and numerical analyses of clay block prisms under compression loads. The main goal of the study is to simulate the nonlinear mechanical response of the prisms, based on the behaviour of blocks and mortar joints, using a numerical non-local damage model specifically developed for quasi-brittle materials. An experimental program, with simple compression tests with displacement control, was carried out to determine the damage parameters for the individual components to characterize the numerical model. Prisms were also tested in simple compression to obtain their complete load-displacement diagrams to failure. Despite the simplicity of the experimental procedure, the obtained results show that the damage model employed is able to predict the strength of the prisms reasonably well, as well as their behaviour in the softening regime.