Author

F. ROMANO, S. GANDUSCIO and G. ZINGONE
Dipartimento di Ingegneria Strutturale e Geotecnica, Universita di Palermo

Abstract

In this paper analytical solutions are derived for the flexural deflections and rotations of cracked masonry members made of material which cannot resist tensile stress. The stress-strain to compression is assumed to be nonlinear and dependent on two parameters deduced from experimental data. The stress distribution of all cross-sections and the cracked zone of the member are determined on the basis of the deflection curve of the compression face of the member, The solution provides the critical load above which the member collapses without reaching the compression strength in any cross-section. It is shown that the use of a linear stress-strain relationship is not always on the safe side for the slenderness ratios commonly utilized in engineering practice. The solution is used to predict the experimental results of 39 full-scale tests on brick walls.