Critical surfaces for adobe masonry: Micromechanical approach

The micromechanical behaviour of running bond adobe masonry with straw fibre reinforced bricks is investigated. Finite element analysis was carried out under the assumptions of periodic masonry, plane stress conditions, and unit cell subjected to principal stresses only, leading to derive critical curves. Both classical elasticity and bi-modular theories were applied to bricks and mortar, adopting appropriate measures for shear modulus. Analysis results are compared in terms of critical curves, highlighting the effects of the elastic model (i.e., constituent materials with equal or different Young's moduli in tension and compression), strength and modulus ratios between mortar and bricks, and mortar joint thickness.