MESOSCOPIC MODELLING OF MASONRY USING GFEM: A COMPARISON OF STRONG AND WEAK DISCONTINUITY MODELS

Abstract. Two mesoscopic masonry models are presented in which the mortar joints are incorporated using the Generalised Finite Element Method (GFEM): a model in which the joints are represented as strong discontinuities and a model in which weak discontinuities are used to model the joints. The bricks remain linear elastic throughout the calculation. The presented models are compared using equivalent damage models through shear wall and settlement tests. The simulations are validated with experimental results available in literature