Parameter estimation of a homogeneous macromodel of masonry wall made of autoclaved aerated concrete based on standard tests

Abstract

Computer analysis of complex masonry structures requires the use of an appropriate homogenization approach. The size of the structure and the required degree of calculations' accuracy determine the technique's selection. Popular homogenization methods make it difficult to replicate the analyzes by other researchers. The difficulty is calibrating the parameters entered into the numerical model, often determined on proprietary research stands. This paper presents the author's method of empirical homogenization of masonry made of autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC). The method is dedicated to the analysis of new wall structures made of autoclaved aerated concrete. The mechanical parameters of the masonry were determined experimentally following generally applicable standards. Correlations between the compression or diagonal shear tests and computational calculations were determined. A nonlinear elastic–plastic model with the degradation with a combination of Rankine and Menetrey-Willam surfaces was employed. Validations were carried out based on the size of cracking and destructive stresses and the scratching patterns. This approach eliminates the problem of experimental repeatability and correlates the empirical parameters ​​derived from standard tests with the computational ones.