Isotropic Masonry Plastic (Surfaces)

This material model allows you to consider masonry walls in an FEA model that cannot absorb any tension forces and react with the formation of cracks.

Input Option of Material Model

In the material dialog box, you can define the limit tension stresses in the direction of the surface axes x and y; that is, parallel and perpendicular to bed joints. During the calculation, the program analyzes in several iterations which finite elements become stress-free due to the failure criterion.

There is no stress limitation in the compression area.

As a result of the calculation, RFEM displays the internal forces that can be used for further design.

If numerical problems occur during the calculation, you can try to reach convergence by increasing the hardening factor C_H or by entering a low tensile strength.

Load Extension in Transverse Direction

By modifying the tensile strengths, it is possible to influence the load distribution in the transverse direction.

• If there is no allowable tensile force,
  

  No Allowable Limit Tension
  there is no transverse distribution.

Load Extension of No Allowable Limit Tension

• If there is moderate allowable tensile force,
  

  Small Allowable Limit Tension
  the transverse distribution is small.

Load Extension of Small Allowable Limit Tension

• If there is great allowable tensile force,
  

  Large Allowable Limit Tension
  the transverse distribution is large.

Load Extension of Large Allowable Limit Tension