Shear behaviour of masonry panel: parametric FE analyses

In this paper a parametric study of shear stressed masonry panels has been carried out both by means of micro- and macro-finite element modelling. Within the framework of continuum damage mechanics, two different damage models have been used: the isotropic model to simulate the behaviour of mortar in the micro-modelling approach; the orthotropic model to reproduce the non-linear behaviour of masonry in the macro-modelling. The first approach allows to accurately capture the local response of panels under shear loading, e.g. the effect of the texture (namely stack bond or running bond) and of an applied external precompression. Moreover, the micro-modelling analyses could be applied to determine the parameters necessary to calibrate the macro-model, in view of a possible use of the micro-modelling technique as a complement to or in total alternative of experimental tests. Finally the macro-model has been applied to simulate the shear tests on masonry panels proving to be able to reproduce the global behaviour of masonry.