NEHRP Clearinghouse
- Title
- A Mathematical Model of Masonry for Predicting its Linear Seismic Response Characteristics.
- File
- PB298266.pdf
- Author(s)
- Mengi, Y.; McNiven, H. D.
- Source
- National Science Foundation, Washington, DC.; North Atlantic Treaty Organization., February 1979, 115 p.
- Identifying Number(s)
- UCB/EERC-79/04
- Abstract
- This report is devoted to developing a mathematical model for masonry which could be used to derive the elastic stress field, in a wall or pier, when either is subjected to seismic loads. Because masonry is made of two materials, and because its geometry is so complicated it is necessary, in studying stress fields that could arise, to replace the composite material by a homogeneous one. The model material must display the same constitutive characteristics as the prototype and must have the same wave dispersive properties. It is the mathematical model of such a homogeneous material that is developed in this report. The development is made in three steps. In the first, a general theory is constructed for two phase materials. The method employed here uses the theory of mixtures applied to a two phase material in which the phases reflect a periodic structure and in which each phase is linearly elastic. The second step is to adapt the general theory to a particular geometry. The periodic material that was chosen is made of alternate plane layers. In the third phase the authors appraise the model by comparing the responses predicted by the model for a transient input with those observed experimentally.
- Keywords
- Masonry; Seismic waves; Mathematical models; Laminates; Dynamic response; Earthquake engineering; Wave propagation; Composite materials; Earthquakes