FEM-DEM modeling for out-of-plane loaded masonry panels: a limit analysis approach

In this work the performances of the Discrete Element Method (DEM) applied to kinematic limit analyses of the out-of-plane behavior of masonry wall panels (with different textures) are investigated. A discrete model of masonry is proposed, which assumes that rigid blocks are connected by a mortar interface: this is ap-propriate for historical masonry, where mortar is much more deformable than blocks and joints thickness is negligible. Therefore blocks can be modeled as rigid bodies connected by zero thickness Mohr-Coulomb-type interfaces. The applied method is known as FEM/DEM, which combines finite and discrete element models. A comparison with well-known and meaningful examples presented by Giuffrè has been carried out in order to validate this method for studying the behavior of masonry. For this purpose, 2D DEM models reproducing walls sections have been considered: they reproduce masonry walls with different staggered blocks, in particular stack bond and running bond patterns, subjected to lateral loads.