The effect of anisotropy on response of masonry walls under horizontal forces

Firstly, the previously developed and verified numerical model for static and dynamic analysis of planar unreinforced and confined masonry walls is shortly presented. The model can simulate the main nonlinear effects of materials and changes in the structure geometry. Simplified anisotropic constitutive model for masonry is described. Corresponding stiffness, strengths, and limit strains of masonry is modelled for main directions of anisotropy. Criterions of limit bearing capacity and collapse of masonry are separately defined for normal stresses only, and separately for normal and shear stresses. Using the presented numerical model, behaviour of unreinforced and confined two-story anisotropic masonry walls, with different walls length, quality of masonry and coefficient of anisotropy, under horizontal static forces is analysed. It was discussed the effect of anisotropy coefficient of masonry response of walls.