Analysis of the Behavior of Brick Masonry with Calcium Silicate Units under Sustained Loads

The numerical modeling of the time evolution of stresses and strains in brickwork made with Ca2SiO4 units under sustained loads is dealt with, within the framework of linear viscoelasticity. The research aims at investigating the influence of the brick pattern on the creep behavior (global deformation; stress redistribution) of any wall under typical load conditions, and at assessing whether a simplified 2D layered model can be employed to get reliable predictions. To this end, finite element analyses were carried out, using two 3D models representative of header bond masonry and Flemish bond masonry; the results were compared with those given by the layered model. The influence of the mortar properties on the stress redistribution was also investigated. Whereas the layered model provides a fairly good prediction of the global creep deformation for both masonry textures under vertical (uniform and eccentric) load, it cannot be applied under more complex load conditions. Under uniform vertical load, 3D models taking the real masonry pattern into account must be used to predict the local stress evolution accurately. The uncertainties regarding the mortar Poisson’s ratio basically affect the time evolution of the transversal stress in the units and the joints.