FDEM Simulation on the Failure Behavior of Historic Masonry Heritages Subjected to Differential Settlement

Historic masonry heritages, such as cathedrals, colonnades, and arch bridges, were constructed with individual components (e.g., stones, bricks, other materials) bound together with, e.g., mortar, they are very vulnerable to foundation settlement, especially differential settlement which occurs frequently in engineering practice. These structures discontinuous, therefore, their behavior under is highly nonlinear complex. In this study, the combined finite-discrete element method (FDEM) employed simulate failure of historic heritages subjected support settlement. FDEM models, discretized into elements where FE formulation incorporated, resulting an accurate estimate structural deformation interaction forces. addition, a fracture model for blocks. Numerical examples given compared results from literature, showing that applicable reliable simulating heritages. Further analyses including block reveal fracturing can decrease capacity against significantly.