Experimental and numerical investigation of masonry under three-point bending (in-plane)

The aim of this study is to investigate the failure and post-peak behaviour of masonry panels with low bond strength mortar under three-point bending (TPB) both experimentally and numerically. Full-scale masonry panels with two different mortar strengths were tested under TPB. The material parameters were obtained from compression, TPB and shear tests on bricks and brick–mortar interfaces. The experimental results are detailed. Adopted for the numerical study was a micro-model finite element formulation in which masonry is modelled using expanded brick units with zero thickness brick–mortar interfaces. The simulation of the masonry TPB tests compared well with the experimental results. Investigations were the crack propagation through the masonry and the effects of dilatancy on the post peak response.