Modified block softening model for predicting the compressive stress–strain curve of grouted masonry: Fid-Bau Portal

Modified block softening model for predicting the compressive stress–strain curve of grouted masonry

Ouyang, Jing / Tong, Xiaolong / Deng, Shuoming / Wu, Fangbo / Zhou, Xuhong

Highlights • The rationality of the modified block softening model is proved by experimental comparison. • The concept of block element softening is defined. • The significance of the nominal deformation ratio and deformation ratio is analyzed. • The way to establish a unified predicting theory for grouted masonry is discussed.

Abstract An analytical tool called the stability model is proposed based on the experimental phenomena and reasonable assumptions. The predicting results verified the rationality of this method. Then, the block’s softening process is discussed by comparing the stability and block softening models, and the concept of the block element overall softening is proposed. Next, the nominal deformation ratio, calculated by the method established in this study, is used to modify the block softening model. The modified block softening mode obtains accurate prediction results of compressive stress–strain curves and compressive strength, which shows the effectiveness of using the grouted masonry’s nominal deformation ratio to describe the block element softening. Finally, the meaning of the nominal deformation ratio $μ_{m}^{'}$ and deformation ratio $μ_{m}$ is clarified. Moreover, the path of using these two parameters to establish a unified theory for predicting the compressive behavior of grouted masonry is analyzed, and the scientific problems that need further study have been discussed.