Numerical Testing of a Small-Scale Stone Masonry Arch

Abstract

This paper presents the required preparatory investigations for the construction of a masonry vault model experiment under laboratory conditions. The analyzed factors included structural design, material, loading and geometry of the model. A numerical modelling was made by Phase2 finite element program to check the performance of the masonry vault and the failure criteria.
The results show that the connections of the masonry elements have considerable influence on the behaviour of small scale vaults. Thus the eect of the tensile strength of the connections was analysed in particular. The paper presents the different failure mechanisms and behaviours of continuum shells and masonry shells. Additionally, the behaviour of the partly cracked connections has been analysed.