Limit Analysis for Unilateral Masonry-like Structures

Abstract

This paper is devoted to the application of unilateral models to the stress analysis of masonry structures. Some 2d applications of what we can call the simplified masonry-like model for masonry, are discussed and studied. The results here presented demonstrate that the unilateral model for masonry can be a useful tool for modeling real masonry structures. The main technique here employed for applying the No-Tension model to structures is the systematic use of singular stress and strain fields within the frame set by the theorems of Limit Analysis. A number of simple examples is discussed to illustrate the method.