Micromechanical modelling of masonry domes accounting for damage and friction phenomena

This paper investigates the mechanical response of masonry domes to improve evaluation of their structural capacity. Numerical simulations are performed considering a small-scale specimen. A micromechanical modelling approach is adopted, where each masonry constituent is separately modelled and all the information about the microstructure are considered. Linear elastic bricks, discretised with three-dimensional solid finite elements, are connected to each other with interfaces representing mortar joints and their interaction behaviour with the bricks. For the interfaces, modelled with 4+4 node elements, a damage-friction constitutive law is assumed, able to track the microcracking evolution due to tensile and shear states. Firstly, the experimental response of the dome under vertical load is reproduced exploiting the ideal symmetry conditions of the structure. Then, the effect of the variation of masonry texture is investigated. Finally, the dome behaviour is studied under horizontal actions mimicking seismic excitation. Response curves and failure mechanisms are monitored.