Numerical Modelling of Infilled Clay Brick Masonry under Blast Loading

Abstract

Numerical modeling and simulation of clay brick masonry infilled in a reinforced concrete frame (RC frame) subjected to blast loading has been presented in this paper. The pressure loading generated in blast shock has been applied on the masonry and the reinforced concrete frame and time history analysis has been made using ABAQUS finite element software package. The slip and separation at the joints of RC frame and masonry occurring during blast loading due to large difference in their stiffness has been modeled using contact algorithm. The study of the infilled brick masonry has been carried out with elasto-plastic strain hardening model using Mohr-Coulomb yield and failure criterion and contact algorithm for modeling contact behaviour at the interface of masonry wall and RC frame. The non-linearity in RC beam/column has been modelled using concrete damaged plasticity model. The parameters for non-linear finite element modeling of masonry have been experimentally determined. In order to gain confidence in the analysis, the proposed constitutive models have been validated with available experimental results on infilled masonry walls. The parametric study has been made for surface blast of 100 kg TNT at a detonation distance 20, 30 and 40 m for 340 mm and 235 mm thick masonry walls with three grades of mortar infilled in a RC frame. The effect of variation of contact friction between mortar and RC elements on the behaviour of masonry walls has also been studied.