A Quasi Real-Time Parallel FE Analysis of Masonry Walls

Abstract—We present a parallel implementation of a non-linear finite element analysis of masonry walls. The imple-mentation is based on a shared-memory architecture, while the mechanical simulation is inspired by a model recently developed for this type of structures. Such a model showed to be both reliable and efficient in predicting collapse mechanisms for safety assessment purposes. Its formulation, as we will explain, favors naturally a parallel implementation because the collapse mechanisms are assumed independently for each Finite Element (FE). Additionally, the non-linear response of the same Element is offered at fast computations, because it is based on average elasto-plastic stress distributions which well simulates the more significant mechanical criticisms, i.e., the frictional toughness along squeezing lines. Keywords-Finite element methods; Nonlinear systems; Par-allel programming