Coulomb Friction Law Research Articles

Multilayer Shells Interacting Through Friction

Abstract The corresponding author had the pleasure of attending an excellent symposium titled “Experimental and Theoretical Micro- and Nano-Mechanics: Honoring the Contributions of Prof. Kyung-Suk Kim” organized by Professors Ashraf Bastawros, Wendy Crone, Yanfei Gao, and Ruike (Renee) Zhao as part of the 2022 Society of Engineering Sciences Annual Technical Meeting held in College Station, TX on October 16–19, 2022. The symposium was held in honor of Prof. Kim’s 70th Birthday and celebrated over 40 years of Prof. Kim’s independent research achievements across several areas of Applied Mechanics. The present paper is dedicated to Prof. Kim, a great colleague at Brown University.We present a new formulation for the multilayer isogeometric Kirchhoff–Love (KL) shells, where the individual layers are assumed to interact through no-penetration and frictional contact. This work is largely motivated by the experiments and analysis presented in Poincloux et al. (2021, “Bending Response of a Book With Internal Friction,” Phys. Rev. Lett., 126(21), p. 218004). We utilize a regularized version of Coulomb’s friction law to model the tangential traction between the contacting shell surfaces. To ensure objectivity (i.e., reference-frame invariance) in the frictional model, we propose two different strategies to extrapolate the velocity vectors of the contact pair at the contact interface: (i) using the underlying KL kinematics of the individual shell layers and (ii) using the Taylor series-based extension from Kamensky et al. (2019, “Peridynamic Modeling of Frictional Contact,” J. Peridyn. Nonlocal Model., 1(2), pp. 107–121). We compare the performance of both approaches through a numerical benchmark example. We then validate our multilayer shell formulation using the “bending response of a book with internal friction” experiments of Poincloux et al. (2021, “Bending Response of a Book With Internal Friction,” Phys. Rev. Lett., 126(21), p. 218004).

Formulation and implementation of a hypoplastic constitutive model for interface behavior of mechanical joints

The effects of the contact interface must be considered during the design process of the assembly structures connected by mechanical joints. An advanced three-dimensional (3D) constitutive model is needed to describe the complex behavior of the contact interface in a detailed finite element (FE) model. However, the simplified Coulomb friction law, which is a bilinear model without considering the microslip behavior and stiffness degradation, is often applied to the surface-surface contact element for modeling the interface in commercial FE programs. In this paper, a new 3D hypoplastic constitutive model for the nonlinear interface behavior is presented. This model is built on the framework of hypoplasticity developed by Kolymbas and the hypothesis of continuous media. First, the general hypoplastic model is derived based on the kernel formula and several restrictions and simplified according to the characteristics of the contact interface. Then, the coefficients of the model are associated with the widely used physical parameters by combining the model with the initial stiffness ratio, normal contact law and Coulomb law. Benefiting from the hypoplastic theorem, the deduced constitutive model has a simple mathematical formulation in which only five parameters are contained. Simulations of several monotonic and cyclic shear tests show that the model can represent the salient characteristics of the joint interface (e.g. stick/microslip/macroslip behaviors, motion coupling and pressure-dependency). Thus, it can be used to predict the response of the joint interface from arbitrary multi-axial load histories more precisely. The constitutive model is then implemented in a commercial FE program via analysis of a double-beam structure subjected to harmonic excitation. And vibration experiments on several preload levels are performed to validate the effectiveness and the applicability of the proposed model to the real joints. The results calculated from the FE model with the improved reduction techniques are in good agreement with the experimental data.

Bifurcation Analysis of a Rotor-Casing Coupling System with Bolted Flange Connection under the Effect of Rotor-Casing Rubbing Fault

This study mainly investigated the nonlinear vibration performance of a rotor-casing coupling system containing a bolted flange connection. The dynamic equations of the coupling system were developed while considering the radial stiffness of the bolted flange structure, which contained a spigot, squirrel cage with ball bearing, and rotor-casing coupling vibration. To study the influence of the disk casing fixed-point rubbing fault on the coupling system’s nonlinear dynamic performance, an analytical model of the nonlinear impact forces was established, which considered the contact and vibration responses of the rotor and casing. The frictional force was obtained based on the Coulomb friction law. The iterative analysis of motion equations was performed utilizing the Newmark method. Then, the nonlinear dynamic behaviors of the coupled systems were examined using data, including a bifurcation diagram, spectrum plot, greatest Lyapunov exponents, etc. The effects of rubbing fault on the dynamic properties of system were investigated in detail, indicating that there were various motion states, which were described as periodic, multi-periodic, and quasi-periodic motions. Comparing the simulation results, it was found that rubbing fault seriously affected the motion stability of the rotor system. Finally, by gathering and examining the vibration data set from a test platform for rotor-casings with bolted joints, the correctness of the numerical simulation findings was confirmed. Additionally, the results of the experimental investigation agreed with that of the simulation. The dynamic distinguishing characteristics that were noticed can be used as an indicator for determining whether the fixed-point rubbing fault between the rotor and casing has become worse.

Unveiling the Effects of Viscous Friction on the Full Annular Rubs in a Piecewise Smooth Rotor/Stator Rubbing System

Experimental evidences show that friction during rotor/stator rubbing may not always obey the Coulomb friction law, which is predominantly adopted in the studies of these kinds. This work is devoted to unveiling the effects of viscous damping in the friction model on forward and backward full annular rubbing responses in a piecewise smooth rotor/stator rubbing system. The effects induced by the viscous friction, which are exclusively different from those with pure Coulomb friction, may possibly be used as the signatures for identifying the presence/extent of viscous friction in rotor/stator rubbing tests. In this work, the boundaries of both forward and backward full annular rub motions are analytically derived based on the stability and bifurcation theory. Due to the introduction of viscous friction, the rotor/stator system changes from a piecewise smooth continuous system to a Fillipov one. The results show that the viscous friction has little influence on the region of backward full annular rubbing responses but has significant effects on the region of forward full annular rub motion. With the increase of the viscous friction, the parameter region of the forward full annular rub shrinks significantly, and the boundary of Hopf bifurcation changes increasingly from supercritical to subcritical. This leads to more complex behaviors in the global response characteristics in comparison with those of the rotor/stator rubbing system with Coulomb friction, for instance, two new quasiperiodic rubbing responses appear beside the quasiperiodic partial rub bifurcating from the synchronous full annular rub, including a new quasiperiodic full annular rub motion that is different from the traditional full annular rubs mentioned above.

Earthquake Behavior of Concrete Gravity Dams During Ground Motions

Abstract The stability evaluation of the dams subjected to seismic excitations is really very complex as the earthquake response of the concrete gravity dam depends upon its connection joints with foundation rock. This study presents the seismic response of concrete gravity dams considering welded contact and friction contact and along dam-foundation rock interface. Friction contact is provided using contact elements. Two-dimensional finite element model of Oued Fodda concrete gravity dam, located in Chlef at the northwestern part of Algeria, is used for this purpose. Nonlinear analyses of dam-foundation rock system are performed using ANSYS software. The reservoir water is modeled as added mass using the Westergaard approach. The Druker-Prager model is employed in the nonlinear analysis for dam concrete. The surface-to-surface contact elements based on the Coulomb's friction law are used to describe the friction. These contact elements use a target surface and a contact surface to form a contact pair. According to this study, when the friction contact is considered in joints, sliding displacement of dam base occurs along the dam-foundation rock interface. The dam sliding along its foundation decreases the deformation response; principal stresses in the dam body and shear force at both the heel and toe of the dam.

The risk of fluid-injection-induced fault reactivation in carbonate reservoirs: an investigation of a geothermal system in the Ruhr region (Germany)

In this study, we investigate the potential for fluid-injection-induced fault reactivation and induced seismicity risk during simultaneous injection-extraction operation in a theoretical geothermal doublet system in a carbonate reservoir in the Ruhr region. Using a coupled three-dimensional thermo-hydro-mechanical approach, we investigate the probability of injection-induced fault rupture. We perform a sensitivity study assuming variability of the fault and matrix permeability, injection/production flow rates, well placement options, rock thermal properties, and evaluate the influence of thermally induced stresses. The ruptured fault areas were calculated based on a Coulomb friction law and a notion that the shear slip is controlled by the ratio of shear to effective normal stresses acting on a pre-existing plane of weakness in the in situ stress field configuration. Ruptured fault areas in the intrinsically not critically-stressed environment, using location-specific empirical correlations, were used to compute local moment magnitudes of potential earthquakes. Based on this study, we conclude that, in the long-term, thermally-induced stresses play a dominant role during fault reactivation and greatly increase the likelihood for induced seismicity. We, therefore, propose that a minimum safe distance between an injection well and a fault should be based primarily on the radius of a thermal plume generated during the expected lifetime of a geothermal system. Results from this study provide valuable insights for the development of future deep geothermal systems in the Ruhr region and other geothermal reservoirs worldwide.

Granular flows in drums of non-uniform widths

We study how channel width variations influence the dynamics of free-surface granular flows. For this purpose, we extend a continuum model framework to granular flows passing through channels that narrow or widen. Our theory uses a linearized approximation to an established dense granular flow rheology and a Coulomb friction law to model interaction between flow and sidewalls. We test the theoretical predictions using two novel 40 cm-diameter drums (convex and concave) filled halfway with 2 mm diameter particles rotated at rates in which the shear layer remains shallow and dense. We apply particle tracking velocimetry to enable quantitative comparisons between experimental data and theoretical predictions. We find that our experimental kinematics and energy profiles largely agree with the theoretical predictions. In general, flows through narrowing channels are faster and deeper than flows through widening channels. The influence of width variations grows with increasing flow speed, and the form of the rate dependence changes fundamentally as the regime changes from one in which kinetic energy is dissipated locally to one in which it is advected downstream. For both regimes, theoretical scaling analysis leads us to experimentally validated power laws, in which the exponent depends on the flow regime, and the multiplicative coefficient depends on channel geometry alone. Finally, we discuss how the differences between theoretical predictions and experimental data may be useful for improving our understanding of flows through non-uniform channels.

Численное моделирование температурных полей при сварке трением с перемешиванием алюминиевого сплава АА5083

One of the important parameters ensuring the production of a welded joint without continuity defects during friction stir welding is the provision of the required temperature in the metal bonding zone. Significant difficulties arise when determining experimentally the temperature directly in the stir zone of metals using thermocouples. In this regard, the application of numerical methods describing the distribution of temperature fields during friction stir welding is relevant. In the work, numerical modeling of temperature fields during friction stir welding was used, which was based on the finite element method using Abaqus/Explicit software. Modeling was carried out taking into account the coupled Euler – Lagrange approach, the Johnson – Cook plasticity model, and the Coulomb friction law. Using the finite element method, the models of a part, substrate, and tool were constructed taking into account their thermophysical properties. To reduce the computation time, an approach based on the metal mass scaling by recalculating the density of the metal and its thermal properties was used. The authors matched coefficients of scaling of the material mass and heat capacity for the selected welding mode parameters. To evaluate the validity of the results of numerical modeling of temperature fields during friction stir welding, the experimental research of the temperature fields using thermocouples was carried out. The paper shows the possibility of numerical modeling of temperature fields during friction stir welding with the help of the coupled Euler – Lagrange approach and Abaqus/Explicit software. Due to the application of the approach associated with material mass scaling, the calculation time is reduced by more than 10 times.

Explicit Analytic Solutions for the Subsurface Stress Field in Single Plane Contacts of Elastically Similar Truncated Cylinders or Wedges

As has been pointed out recently, a possible solution strategy to the wear–fatigue dilemma in fretting, operating on the level of contact mechanics and profile geometries, can be the introduction of “soft” sharp edges to the contact profiles, for example, by truncating an originally smooth profile. In that regard, analysis of possible mechanical failure of a structure, due to the contact interaction, requires the knowledge of the full subsurface stress state resulting from the contact loading. In the present manuscript, a closed-form exact solution for the subsurface stress state is given for the frictional contact of elastically similar truncated cylinders or wedges, within the framework of the half-plane approximation and a local-global Amontons–Coulomb friction law. Moreover, a fast and robust semi-analytical method, based on the appropriate superposition of solutions for parabolic contact, is proposed for the determination of the subsurface stress fields in frictional plane contacts with more complex profile geometries, and compared with the exact solution. Based on the analytical solution, periodic tangential loading of a truncated cylinder is considered in detail, and important scalar characteristics of the stress state, like the von-Mises equivalent stress, maximum shear stress, and the largest principal stress, are determined. Positive (i.e., tensile) principal stresses only exist in the vicinity of the contact edge, away from the pressure singularity at the edge of the profile, and away from the maxima of the von-Mises equivalent stress, or the maximum shear stress. Therefore, the fretting contact should not be prone to fatigue crack initiation.

Spatiotemporal chaos of a one-dimensional thin elastic layer with the rate-and-state friction law

Independent of specific local features, global spatio-temporal structures in diverse phenomena around bifurcation points are described by the complex Ginzburg-Landau equation (CGLE) derived using the reductive perturbation method, which includes prediction of spatio-temporal chaos. The generality in the CGLE scheme includes oscillatory instability in slip behavior between stable and unstable regimes. Such slip transitions accompanying spatio-temporal chaos is expected for frictional interfaces of a thin elastic layer made of soft solids, such as rubber or gel, where especially chaotic behavior may be easily discovered due to their compliance. Slow earthquakes observed in the aseismic-to-seismogenic transition zone along a subducting plate are also potential candidates. This article focuses on the common properties of slip oscillatory instability from the viewpoint of a CGLE approach by introducing a drastically simplified model of an elastic body with a thin layer, whose local expression in space and time allows us to employ conventional reduction methods. Special attention is paid to incorporate a rate-and-state friction law supported by microscopic mechanisms beyond the Coulomb friction law. We discuss similarities and discrepancies in the oscillatory instability observed or predicted in soft matter or a slow earthquake.

Modeling the debonding process of osseointegrated implants due to coupled adhesion and friction

Cementless implants have become widely used for total hip replacement surgery. The long-term stability of these implants is achieved by bone growing around and into the rough surface of the implant, a process called osseointegration. However, debonding of the bone–implant interface can still occur due to aseptic implant loosening and insufficient osseointegration, which may have dramatic consequences. The aim of this work is to describe a new 3D finite element frictional contact formulation for the debonding of partially osseointegrated implants. The contact model is based on a modified Coulomb friction law by Immel et al. (2020), that takes into account the tangential debonding of the bone-implant interface. This model is extended in the direction normal to the bone-implant interface by considering a cohesive zone model, to account for adhesion phenomena in the normal direction and for adhesive friction of partially bonded interfaces. The model is applied to simulate the debonding of an acetabular cup implant. The influence of partial osseointegration and adhesive effects on the long-term stability of the implant is assessed. The influence of different patient- and implant-specific parameters such as the friction coefficient mu _text {b}, the trabecular Young’s modulus E_text {b}, and the interference fit I!F is also analyzed, in order to determine the optimal stability for different configurations. Furthermore, this work provides guidelines for future experimental and computational studies that are necessary for further parameter calibration.

Rubbing vibration characteristics of double-rotor system under wave load

Structural characteristics of a certain type of gas turbine double rotor and its hull are analyzed. The wave of a regular form is considered, and the wave load is simplified to the form of sinusoidal force. The rubbing force and nonlinear supporting force of the bearing are deduced as per the Hertz contact theory and Coulomb friction law. The mechanical model of the double rotor system under the combined action of the wave load and rotor friction impact is established, which is solved by the fourth-order Runge-Kutta method. The bifurcation diagram, phase diagram, Poincare section diagram, axis trajectory diagrams, effects of rotor eccentricity, and friction coefficient on the nonlinear dynamic characteristics of the system under rub impact fault are studied. The obtained results show that with an increase in eccentricity, the system enters into a chaotic state through the period doubling and paroxysmal bifurcations, and successively experiences nonlinear behaviors such as periodic 2 bifurcation, periodic 4 bifurcation, and quasi periodic and chaos. In the double rotor system, the nonlinear dynamic behavior of the single period and semi Nermark-Sacker bifurcation occurs with increasing friction coefficient. The present findings can provide a theoretical basis for condition monitoring, fault diagnosis, and design optimization of this type of gas turbine double rotor system.

Dynamics modeling of gear transmissions with asymmetric load-dependent friction

This paper proposes a new concise mathematical model of gear transmission dynamics with asymmetric load-dependent friction. It is built only upon the rigid-contact mechanics and the Coulomb friction law, but provides a new theoretical perspective on dynamic and static characteristics of gear transmissions. The presented model is of the form of a differential–algebraic inclusion (DAI) characterized by some parameters, including input-side and output-side asymmetry coefficients. The presented model properly captures the static friction and even the non-backdrivability. It is applicable to different classes of transmissions, such as leadscrew transmissions, worm gear transmissions, and spur gear transmissions. The DAI representation is extended into a multi-dimensional representation for articulated rigid-body systems driven through joint transmissions. Moreover, simulation algorithms are derived through the implicit Euler discretization. Some simulation examples illustrate the capability of the presented simulation algorithm to reproduce load-dependent asymmetric frictional behaviors, which cannot be reproduced by conventional load-independent joint friction models.

Three-dimensional contact formulation for assessment of dynamic interaction of pantograph and overhead conductor rail system

Overhead conductor rail (OCR) is an important power supply device in tunnel railway lines. The penalty method is widely adopted to model the dynamic interaction behaviour of the pantograph-OCR system (POCRs), while it is difficult to determine a proper contact stiffness value. This paper proposes a three-dimensional contact formulation for the POCRs based on the Lagrange multiplier method. Accurate contact forces can be obtained easily by this contact formulation without the trouble of determining the contact stiffness. Contact force is defined in the global coordinate system as a three-dimensional vector. Coulomb law of friction is adopted in this paper to describe the tangential contact force, and the train speed is included in the contact formulation. The central finite difference approximation method is utilised, and an iteration procedure is elaborated to calculate the accurate contact force vector. The proposed contact formulation is verified by comparing simulation results with in-line measured data. The maximum statistical relative error of the contact force is only 2.63%. The advantages of the proposed contact formulation are also demonstrated by comparing it with the penalty method.

Solution of the static contact problem with Coulomb friction between an elastic body and a rigid foundation

We consider a static contact problem between an elastic body and an absolutely rigid foundation with Signorini contact conditions and Coulomb friction law. The problem can be formulated as a quasi-variational inequality in which the normal stress is proportional with the friction coefficient to the friction force in the contact zone. In this case, the normal stress itself depends on the desired solution, and the existence of a solution to the problem reduces to the existence of a fixed point of a certain mapping. Consideration of Coulomb friction naturally leads to the non-differentiability of the objective functional in the auxiliary problem of the method of successive approximations and, thereby, to a significant complication of the algorithms for solving the constrained minimization problem. We propose a method of solving an auxiliary problem with given friction, which is based on the Uzawa algorithm and modified Lagrange functionals. The main advantage of the proposed method is that it allows to effectively solve auxiliary problems and to prove the theoretical convergence of the method of successive approximations to a fixed point. Numerical experiments are carried out to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed method.

Conceptual design and investigation of an innovative joint for the rapid and precise assembly of precast UHPC elements

Buildings assembled on site from precast concrete elements have several advantages compared to monolithic structures, such as fabrication in flow production, rapid and precise erection as well as controlled disassembly. The joints of segmental structures have a significant influence on the design of the structure, the assembly and the load transfer of the bearing elements. In this study, the mechanism of shear force transmission of a developed ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) mortise in conjunction with a steel tenon under additional post-tensioning forces was investigated. Numerical investigations and experimental tests were conducted focusing on the shear behavior of planar surfaces, the load–displacement behavior of the developed dry joint and the failure modes under different normal stresses. The results show that the Coulomb friction law is not fully applicable to the friction of plane UHPC surfaces with micro-roughness under high normal stresses. The data obtained from FE simulations show good agreement with the results from full-scale experimental tests and the characteristic shear capacities are adequate for further design of the developed dry joint.

Thermo-mechanical coupled analysis of V-belt drive system via absolute nodal coordinate formulation

Due to the apparent heat generation and the observed multiple thermal effects in the long-term operation of belt drive system, the thermo-mechanical coupled analysis for the flexible multi-body system is necessitated. A previously proposed absolute nodal coordinate formulation solid-beam element is adopted to create its thermal integrated counterpart since its deformation modes are appropriate for capturing the deformation of V-belt geometry. By means of the unified description of the temperature field and displacement field, the analysis for heat transfer and the continuum mechanics could be integrated in the V-belt drive system. The heat generation caused by frictional creep and the hysteresis loss due to the material viscosity, as well as the thermal deformation, are all included in the model. By describing the flange of pulley groove using a parameterized revolving segment centered by the pulley axis, the contact between V-belt and the flange of pulley groove could be implemented efficiently without complex 3D geometric description of the pulley. The contact force is calculated using penalty method, and the frictional force is determined by the Coulomb friction law in integral form. Numerical results demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed analysis method.

Three-dimensional finite element modelling on strain localization around the Mabian earthquake swarm, Sichuan Province

SUMMARYThe Mabian fault zone, distanced ∼200 km to the east of the Xianshuihe–Xiaojiang fault system, is located in the western vicinity of the relatively stable South China Block. Since 1917, about 54 M > 4.7 earthquakes, including the 1974 Ms = 7.1 Mabian event have occurred around this fault zone, suggesting that significant strain is localized within the Mabian fault zone. Here, we built a 3-D finite element model to investigate the main parameters that possibly control strain localization around the Mabian fault zone averaged over the active deformation timescale. In the model, the Xianshuihe–Xiaojiang fault system is specified as a discontinuous contact interface for its motion governed by a Coulomb-friction law, and the crustal rheology is simplified as a frictional upper crust underlain by a viscoelastic lower crust. In addition, global positioning system (GPS) data are used to mimic the horizontal tectonic loading, and the model base is supported by a hydrostatic pressure. Numerical results show that with the weak fault strength and the low viscosity contrast between the Tibetan plateau and the South China Block, strain rates from motion of the southeastern Tibetan plateau could be propagated across the Xianshuihe–Xiaojiang fault system more widely within the Mabian fault zone. Constrained by the estimates on slip rates of the faults and on rheological structures of the crust, our optimal model predicts the effective friction coefficient of the Xianshuihe–Xiaojiang fault of 0.05–0.1. Under this condition, relative motion across the Xianshuihe–Xiaojiang fault system is largely partitioned by the geometric bend near the central portion of the fault system, resulting in a relatively high strain rate of 2.1–3×10–8 yr–1 accumulating around the Mabian fault zone. Keeping the weak strength of the fault, numerical results also show that if the central portion of the Xianshuihe–Xiaojiang fault system follows the Daliangshan fault, strain accumulation around the Mabian fault zone could be significantly reduced. It thus can be concluded that the strain partitioning from the weak strength and the special geometry of the Xianshuihe–Xiaojiang fault system must play a crucial role in active deformation around the Mabian area out of the Tibetan plateau deformation domain. This in turn means that in the Xianshuihe–Xiaojiang fault system, the Anninghe–Zemuhe fault is still the main boundary between the southeastern Tibetan plateau and the South China Block.

Numerical modeling of defect formation in friction stir welding

This study presents an investigation of welding defect formation in joining AZ61 magnesium alloy with friction stir welding by means of a 3D finite element model. The numerical model was created and analyzed in the ABAQUS software. This numerical model uses coupled Eulerian Lagrangian formulation, modified Coulomb's friction law, Johnson-Cook material law, mass scaling technique, and temperature dependent friction coefficient values. The numerical model was validated with experimental results in terms of heat input, temperature distribution, plastic deformation type-amount, and weld defect formation in the weld zone. In friction stir welding, the heat input with a certain tool simply changes directly proportional to the ratio of tool rotation speed to tool feed rate for constant tool compressive force. In the numerical model, as in the experimental study, when the ratio of tool rotational speed to tool feed rate is 2, low heat input results in insufficient plastic deformation, leading to the formation of weld defects in the form of void. When the ratio of tool rotational speed to tool feed rate is 3, however, it was observed that sufficient heat input is provided, and no welding defects occur. The generated numerical model enables the determination of the welding defects that occur in the form of voids in the friction stir welding in a very short processing time. Besides, weld seam geometry can be predicted quite accurately with this model.

Numerical issues on brittle shear failure of pier-wall continuous vertical joints in URM dutch buildings

Terraced houses built in the Netherland after 1980 are often characterized by the use of large units connected at corners by continuous thin layer mortar joints. Unlike the running bond pattern, usually modelled as a rigid connection, the vertical continuous connection may fail in shear and influence the global seismic capacity of the entire building. This work aims at investigating and comparing different numerical modelling approaches for simulating the vertical connections. Two different constitutive models are adopted to simulate the quasi-brittle nonlinear behaviour of the continuous joint, and their advantages and limitations are pointed out in terms of robustness and accuracy. The study considers both the component level in terms of U-shaped pier-wall configuration, and the full-scale structural level in terms of the global capacity for a two-storey masonry house assemblage, characterized by a running bond arrangement. The results of this work show that the shear failure involving the continuous joint usually reduces the strength capacity of the structure. Both the selection of constitutive models for the connection interface and masonry material are demonstrated to affect the results significantly. Decoupled direct traction-displacement relations for the interfaces appear to provide more robust results than coupled plasticity-based Coulomb friction laws. The selection of either a pre-fixed orthotropic smeared crack model for the masonry or a standard isotropic concrete-like rotating smeared crack formulation is demonstrated to strongly influence the activation of the different failure mechanisms and hence the response of the structure.