Nonlinear numerical modelling of complex masonry heritage structures considering history-related phenomena in staged construction analysis and material uncertainty in seismic assessment

Abstract

This paper presents the systematic use of numerical analysis as a tool for addressing some of the most common challenges encountered in the structural analysis of complex historical masonry structures, i.e. the description of the effects of history-related phenomena and the un-certainty of material properties. The numerical strategy is based on the use of a constitutive model able to describe time-dependent strain accumulation, as well as damaging behaviour un-der different stress states. This constitutive model is combined with a crack-tracking technique to represent tensile crack localization. The numerical model is applied to the study of two im-portant monuments in Spain, i.e. the Mallorca Cathedral and the church of the Poblet Monas-tery. The staged construction analysis of the first case study allows understanding the reasons of its current deformed condition, i.e. critical construction process, strain accumulation given by long-term creep phenomena, and nonlinear geometric effects. The structural analysis of the second case study allows the structural diagnosis of the existing deformation and cracking pat-terns given by architectural alterations, insufficient buttressing of the naves, and past earth-quakes. The application of a probabilistic analysis to the church of the Poblet monastery allows considering the effects of the uncertainties of material properties and numerical parameters in the seismic vulnerability assessment.