The challenge

Modeling low-strength stone masonry

While the modeling of structures built with conventional materials like concrete and steel is quite advanced, the same cannot be said for masonry. Modeling masonry is challenging, and it's even more difficult for stone masonry because of its numerous variables. Each stone is unique in size, and the mortar joints and stone placement are not uniform. This complexity is compounded in remote areas, where low-strength construction is common due to the incorrect mixing, handling, and curing of materials.

Although some numerical assessments have been done for unreinforced stone and heritage buildings, very few researchers have created numerical models that include horizontal reinforcements like timber or concrete ring beams. In fact, not a single research paper has been found that examines the effect of horizontal concrete bands in random rubble stone masonry with cement-based mortar.

What we need to do

The goal of our research is to fill critical knowledge gaps by developing and calibrating models for case study buildings to assess the seismic resilience of rubble stone masonry walls that have been strengthened with horizontal bands.

Modeling these structures is highly dependent on reliable mechanical properties, such as compression, tensile, and shear strengths, as well as elastic and shear moduli. However, there is a significant lack of relevant data, as only a handful of test campaigns are suitable for benchmarking stone masonry panels, especially those built with cement mortar.

Our research approach

The first step in our research will be to calibrate various software packages — including Abaqus, Diana, Opensees, 3DMacro, and LS-Dyna — so they all "speak the same language" before we begin modeling the case study buildings.

We will conduct benchmark exercises on existing test campaigns from other researchers. The goal is to replicate key parameters like the strength, stiffness, and drift capacity of stone masonry panels. We will also perform hand calculations as a "sanity check". Our results are expected to be a valuable contribution to the sparse data currently available for this specific type of building.

Get involved

We are actively seeking additional papers and test data on single-wall stone masonry panels with different dimensions, boundary conditions, and loading scenarios. If you have any recommendations, please share them with us.

We also invite experts in masonry modeling with state-of-the-art software packages to join our research team. If you are interested in exchanging knowledge or collaborating, please get in touch.