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Infrastructures
Special Issues
Advanced Structural Analysis of Masonry and Reinforced Concrete Structures
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Advanced Structural Analysis of Masonry and Reinforced Concrete Structures

A special issue of Infrastructures (ISSN 2412-3811).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 September 2023) | Viewed by 11089

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Bora Pulatsu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Civil and Environmental Engineering, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
Interests: masonry structures; advanced computational modeling; fracture mechanics; soil-structure interaction; discrete element method
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to submit a contribution to this Special Issue on “Advanced Structural Analysis of Masonry and Reinforced Concrete Structures”.

Masonry and reinforced concrete structures constitute the vast majority of our civil infrastructures all over the world, which are subjected to various loads affecting their lifespan, serviceability, and performance. Effective use of resources has become increasingly critical due to climate change, and the increased frequency of extreme environmental actions are prevalent, leading to the need to conserve our  existing structures cost-effectively. To this end, recently developed computational modeling strategies offer accurate predictions and a better understanding of masonry and reinforced concrete structures that are key to achieving sustainable conservation plans and preventing unexpected partial/full life-threatening collapses.

However, each numerical modeling approach has its advantages and limitations. As such, this Special Issue of Infrastructures aims to feature a collection of up-to-date computational simulations encompassing meso- to macro-scale analyses of masonry and reinforced concrete structures. We invite original contributions, including but not limited to the serviceability, failure, and performance assessment of masonry and reinforced concrete structures using up-to-date continuum- and discontinuum-based analyses, case studies, and critical literature reviews.

Prof. Dr. Bora Pulatsu
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Infrastructures is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • computational modeling
  • finite element analysis
  • structural analysis
  • fracture, stability
  • collapse mechanism
  • discrete element modeling
  • damage

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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18 pages, 9168 KiB  
Article
Exploring the Cyclic Behaviour of URM Walls with and without Damp-Proof Course (DPC) Membranes through Discrete Element Method
by Bora Pulatsu, Rhea Wilson, Jose V. Lemos and Nebojša Mojsilović
Infrastructures 2024, 9(1), 11; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures9010011 - 6 Jan 2024
Viewed by 2179
Abstract
Unreinforced masonry (URM) walls are common load-bearing structural elements in most existing buildings, consisting of masonry units (bricks) and mortar joints. They indicate a highly nonlinear and complex behaviour when subjected to combined compression–shear loading influenced by different factors, such as pre-compression load [...] Read more.
Unreinforced masonry (URM) walls are common load-bearing structural elements in most existing buildings, consisting of masonry units (bricks) and mortar joints. They indicate a highly nonlinear and complex behaviour when subjected to combined compression–shear loading influenced by different factors, such as pre-compression load and boundary conditions, among many others, which makes predicting their structural response challenging. To this end, the present study offers a discontinuum-based modelling strategy based on the discrete element method (DEM) to investigate the in-plane cyclic response of URM panels under different vertical pressures with and without a damp-proof course (DPC) membrane. The adopted modelling strategy represents URM walls as a group of discrete rigid block systems interacting along their boundaries through the contact points. A novel contact constitutive model addressing the elasto-softening stress–displacement behaviour of unit–mortar interfaces and the associated stiffness degradation in tension–compression regimes is adopted within the implemented discontinuum-based modelling framework. The proposed modelling strategy is validated by comparing a recent experimental campaign where the essential data regarding geometrical features, material properties and loading histories are obtained. The results show that while the proposed computational modelling strategy can accurately capture the hysteric response of URM walls without a DPC membrane, it may underestimate the load-carrying capacity of URM walls with a DPC membrane. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Structural Analysis of Masonry and Reinforced Concrete Structures)
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17 pages, 2522 KiB  
Article
Effect of Coarse Aggregate Grading on Mechanical Parameters and Fracture Toughness of Limestone Concrete
by Grzegorz Ludwik Golewski
Infrastructures 2023, 8(8), 117; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures8080117 - 27 Jul 2023
Cited by 40 | Viewed by 2030
Abstract
This work presents a discussion of the basic properties of broken mineral limestone aggregates with the specification of the properties affecting the fracture toughness of concretes made with these aggregates. To determine the influence of the grain-size distribution of coarse aggregates for each [...] Read more.
This work presents a discussion of the basic properties of broken mineral limestone aggregates with the specification of the properties affecting the fracture toughness of concretes made with these aggregates. To determine the influence of the grain-size distribution of coarse aggregates for each concrete series, two types of aggregate grain were used, with maximum grain sizes of 8 mm (series of concrete L1) and 16 mm (series of concrete L2). Fracture-toughness tests were carried out using mode I fractures in accordance with the RILEM Draft recommendations, TC-89 FMT. During the experiments the critical stress-intensity factor (KIcS) and crack-tip-opening displacements (CTODc) were determined. The main mechanical parameters, i.e., the compressive strength (fcm) and splitting tensile strength (fctm), were also assessed. Based on the obtained results, it was found that the grain-size distribution of the limestone aggregate influenced the concrete’s mechanical and fracture-mechanics parameters. The obtained results showed that the series-L2 concrete had higher strength and fracture-mechanics parameters, i.e.,: fcm—45.06 MPa, fctm—3.03 MPa, KIcS—1.22 MN/m3/2, and CTODc —12.87 m10−6. However, the concrete with a maximum grain size of 8 mm (series of concrete L1) presented lower values for all the analyzed parameters, i.e.,: fcm—39.17 MPa, fctm—2.57 MPa, KIcS—0.99 MN/m3/2, and CTODc —10.02 m10−6. The main reason for the lower fracture toughness of the concretes with smaller grain sizes was the weakness of the ITZ in this composite compared to the ITZ in the concrete with a maximum grain size of 16 mm. The obtained test results can help designers, concrete producers, and contractors working with concrete structures to ensure the more conscious composition of concrete mixes with limestone aggregates, as well as to produce precise forecasts for the operational properties of concrete composites containing fillers obtained from carbonate rocks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Structural Analysis of Masonry and Reinforced Concrete Structures)
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33 pages, 45713 KiB  
Article
Calibration of Micromechanical Parameters for the Discrete Element Simulation of a Masonry Arch using Artificial Intelligence
by Ghulam Kibriya, Ákos Orosz, János Botzheim and Katalin Bagi
Infrastructures 2023, 8(4), 64; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures8040064 - 24 Mar 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2378
Abstract
This study focuses on an old but still unresolved problem of automatically calibrating the constitutive parameters of discrete element models. Instead of the troublesome and time-consuming manual trial-and-error method, which is typical today, the authors suggest using artificial intelligence techniques. A masonry arch [...] Read more.
This study focuses on an old but still unresolved problem of automatically calibrating the constitutive parameters of discrete element models. Instead of the troublesome and time-consuming manual trial-and-error method, which is typical today, the authors suggest using artificial intelligence techniques. A masonry arch is analysed, whose experimental static load–displacement behaviour is known from the literature. An attempt is made to match this behaviour with discrete element models, through finding appropriate quantitative values for the parameters. Two methods (Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Particle Swarm Optimisation (PSO)) are tested and, since PSO turns out to be more reliable, a further improved version, ‘Trust-Based Particle Swarm Optimisation’ (TBPSO), is proposed. The results show that (1) TBPSO quickly leads to suitable alternative parameter sets that make the discrete element model match the behaviour of the real experiments and (2) the optimal values of the parameters strongly depend on the loading velocity and the discretisation method used. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Structural Analysis of Masonry and Reinforced Concrete Structures)
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13 pages, 2198 KiB  
Technical Note
On the Use of the Digital Twin Concept for the Structural Integrity Protection of Architectural Heritage
by Annalaura Vuoto, Marco Francesco Funari and Paulo B. Lourenço
Infrastructures 2023, 8(5), 86; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures8050086 - 4 May 2023
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 3354
Abstract
Undoubtedly, heritage buildings serve as essential embodiments of the cultural richness and diversity of the world’s states, and their conservation is of the utmost importance. Specifically, the protection of the structural integrity of these buildings is highly relevant not only because of the [...] Read more.
Undoubtedly, heritage buildings serve as essential embodiments of the cultural richness and diversity of the world’s states, and their conservation is of the utmost importance. Specifically, the protection of the structural integrity of these buildings is highly relevant not only because of the buildings themselves but also because they often contain precious artworks, such as sculptures, paintings, and frescoes. When a disaster causes damage to heritage buildings, these artworks will likely be damaged, resulting in the loss of historical and artistic materials and an intangible loss of memory and identity for people. To preserve heritage buildings, state-of-the-art recommendations inspired by the Venice Charter of 1964 suggest real-time monitoring of the progressive damage of existing structures, avoiding massive interventions, and providing immediate action in the case of a disaster. The most up-to-date digital information and analysis technologies, such as digital twins, can be employed to fulfil this approach. The implementation of the digital twin paradigm can be crucial in developing a preventive approach for built cultural heritage conservation, considering its key features of continuous data exchange with the physical system and predictive analysis. This paper presents a comprehensive overview of the digital twin concept in the architecture, engineering, construction, and operation (AECO) domain. It also critically discusses some applications within the context of preserving the structural integrity of architectural heritage, with a particular emphasis on masonry structures. Finally, a prototype of the digital twin paradigm for the preservation of heritage buildings’ structural integrity is proposed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Structural Analysis of Masonry and Reinforced Concrete Structures)
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