Modeling Soil/Structure Interaction for Masonry Structures

A soil/structure interaction model for the simulation of the structural response, including wall cracking, of lightweight masonry structures to expansive soil movements is described. The simulation of swell and shrink in expansive soils due to changes in soil suction is discussed. The model is capable of reproducing the essential features of the structural response observed in full scale experiments. Simple modeling assumptions and the use of static condensation of the global stiffness equations allow fast solution speeds to be achieved. The soil/structure interaction model is thus suitable for use in sensitivity studies and probabilistic analyses of masonry walls with a wide range of possible structural geometries and crack locations. The model has potential applications for studying the behavior of one or two story structures of masonry veneer, full brick/block, or cavity construction, particularly in a probabilistic framework. Although designed specifically for the simulation of expansive soil movements, the effects of various other sources of foundation deformation such as differential settlement and mine subsidence can also be studied.