An Explicit finite element method for the analysis of masonry shear walls containing reinforcement

This paper presents an explicit finite element model for the analysis of masonry shear walls with and without reinforcement. Walls containing vertical reinforcement at spacing between 800mm – 2000mm are referred to as wide spaced reinforced masonry (WSRM) walls and have been modelled using macroscopic material characteristics for the unreinforced masonry (URM) panels and damaged concrete plasticity model for the grouted cores containing reinforcement. The material parameters required for modelling the walls are described. Basics of the explicit finite element algorithm (FEA) are briefly discussed. The FEA predictions are compared with the full-scale experimental wall test results. It has been shown that by minimising the kinetic energy and using an appropriate time scaling and/or damping, the FEA could provide reasonable and efficient prediction of the behaviour of the WSRM and URM walls subjected to inplane shear loading.