Parametric study on laterite prism under uniaxial compression through numerical modeling

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Abstract

The influence of parameters such as laterite elastic modulus, mortar elastic modulus, and mortar thickness on the stress–strain behaviour of laterite masonry prisms under in-plane compression loading is numerically assessed in this work. As constitutive laws of laterite and mortar, the “concrete damage plasticity” model was adopted. The ‘cohesive surface-based’ behavior (interface elements) has been used for the joint between laterite and mortar. The material properties of laterite and mortar required for the present study are obtained experimentally. The numerical study was done using FEM-based software ABAQUS. The experimental data and literature were used to validate the numerical analysis. The analysis results show a reduction in the prism strength as the thickness of mortar increased and it shows that elastic modulus of laterite has a direct impact on the compressive strength of laterite prism.

Introduction

Masonry is a structure made up of individual units that are placed in and mortared together, and the term “masonry” can also be considered the units themselves. The commonly used materials in the masonry construction are brick, blocks of stone such as marble, granite, limestone, laterite stone, terracotta block (burnt class hollow blocks) and concrete block (solid or hollow). The durability of the complete masonry construction is majorly affected by the quality of the mortar and workmanship, and the pattern units are assembled in. In the present study, Laterite is used as a unit and cement mortar is used as a joint. Many tropical regions use of laterite stone masonry as one of the most common building materials. It is a red or brown stone and is rich in iron and it is used most of the parts of India like Karnataka and in Kerala, where it is found abundantly. It's the weathering result of certain silicate-containing rocks like basalt, granite, and slates. The stone is easy to quarry and dress, but it must be aired for a few days before use to allow it to oxidise and solidify. Laterite stone that has just been quarried is soft and porous. A dark crust forms if it is kept exposed due to oxidation, which protects it from weathering. As a result, it becomes a rough substance. As a result, it's always preferable to have these stones quarried ahead of time (see Fig. 1).

Masonry wall is an assemblage of masonry unit and mortar. Strength and stability of it depends upon the interaction between these materials and other factors affecting the physical and mechanical properties of the assemblage or composite. Hence it is important to characterize the fundamental behaviour of masonry. The stress strain behaviour of masonry can be obtained using the masonry prism. In the following research the stress strain behaviour of laterite masonry prism under uniaxial compression is studied. Since the laterite masonry is a heterogeneous anisotropic material, analysing, comprehending, and capturing the structural behaviour of masonry is difficult. Different approaches have been used in recent years to do numerical simulations of linear and non-linear brickwork behaviour. When compared to experimental results, the numerical technique estimates fairly good stress–strain curves. In recent years, a variety of modeling methods have been created, based on the amount of accuracy required and the intended simplicity. In most studies, masonry has been defined as an assemblage of bricks and mortar with average properties. The impact of mortar joints functioning as weak planes has been ignored in favour of isotropic elastic behaviour [17], [18]. At low stress levels, these assumptions were helpful in forecasting deformations, but not at greater stress levels, where non-linear material behaviour causes substantial stress redistribution and local failure. A nonlinear finite element model for solid masonry that may reproduce material non-linearity effects and progressive local failure is proposed by[1], [2]. Local brick or joint failure has an effect that is diffused throughout all or part of the corresponding finite element. When local effects are essential, this approach allows for quick study of huge panels, but it has limits. The two methodologies (Micro- and Macro-modeling) for the analysis of masonry structures were recently discussed in detail by Lourenco and Rots [3]. The modeling methodologies can be characterised as detailed micro-modeling, simplified micro-modeling, and macro-modeling, according to author [3], [4], [5]. Micro-modeling includes the simulation of units, mortar, and the unit-mortar interface. The simulation of units, mortar, and the unit-mortar interface are all part of micro-modeling. It's good for analysing the structural behaviour of small masonry sections, but it takes a lot of CPU time for models with a lot of elements. Because of the reduced computational burden, macro-modeling is now the dominant method. There is no differentiation between units and joints in this scenario, and masonry is treated as a continuous material. A variety of research employing or implementing these various modeling methodologies may be found in the literature. Conclusions about the relative benefits of different models and algorithms should be based on a direct comparison of the methods in the same situations. Depending on the type of problem and the degree of precision necessary against the preferred simplicity, the appropriate model and method could be used to analyse the issue at hand.

The material properties and constitutive relationships of unit and mortar are required for mathematical modelling of masonry structures. As laterite and mortar are brittle materials it is not possible to predict their inelastic behaviour experimentally because of the scarcity of controlled experimental tests and significant variation in material properties geographically. Hence using numerical modeling, the inelastic behaviour of laterite and mortar are obtained. This paper is aimed to study the behaviour of laterite stone masonry using micro modeling approach using commercial finite element code ABAQUS.

Section snippets

The finite element model

The material properties and constitutive relationships of the unit and mortar are required for mathematical modelling of masonry. As laterite and mortar are brittle materials it is not possible to predict their inelastic behaviour experimentally because of the scarcity of controlled experimental tests and significant variation in material properties geographically. Hence using numerical modeling, the inelastic behaviour of laterite and mortar are obtained. This paper is aimed to study the

FEM analysis of laterite masonry prism

As it is difficult to perform large number of full-scale tests on masonry wall because of its complexity in deriving conclusive results, FEM has been carried out by micro modeling approach depending on the scale of the investigation. Laterite and mortar both have been modeled in ABAQUS[27] using C3D8R eight node hexahedral element. The joint interface between the brick and the mortar is defined using ‘cohesive surface-based’ behavior. As laterite and mortar are brittle in nature “concrete

Conclusion

This paper has dealt with micromodel approach of laterite stone masonry. A parametric study on laterite masonry prism done analytically using FEM based software Abaqus 2017. The nonlinear material properties of laterite and mortar calculated using numerical model and the basic properties obtained experimentally. The parameters affecting the compressive stress stain response of laterite masonry prism obtained. The parameters include thickness of mortar, elastic modulus of laterite and mortar. A

Declaration of Competing Interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

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