Comparison of simplified coupled and uncoupled 3D finite element models for soil-structure interactions in masonry structures with strip foundations undergoing subsidence

masonry damage settlements numerical models soil-structure interaction 3D FE analyses subsidence soil-foundation interfaces strip foundations cracking
["Prosperi, Alfonso","Longo, Michele","Korswagen, Paul A","Korff, Mandy","Rots, Jan G"] 2025-01-01 期刊论文
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This study compares two 3D nonlinear FE models, 'simplified coupled' and 'uncoupled', to explore 'light' damage in a two-storey masonry building on strip foundations affected by subsidence. Both models employ nonlinear interfaces to simulate soil-structure interaction: the simplified coupled model ties the structure with the soil volume with 'contact interfaces', while the uncoupled model uses 'boundary interfaces' to represent the interaction. The impact of soil volume and settlement shape size is examined. Results indicate consistent damage, displacements, and stresses across both modelling approaches with the smallest soil volume. Differences increase with larger soil volumes: at a distortion of 1/1,000 in hogging, the coupled model shows the damage decreases by 54% when the soil volume is quadrupled. Mesh size is also observed to affect crack initiation but not the overall damage mechanism. In general, coupled models reduce non-convergence and computation time, whereas uncoupled models simplify the analyses by decoupling the problem.
来源平台:INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MASONRY RESEARCH AND INNOVATION