Numerical Approach to Model the Effect of Moisture in Adobe Masonry Walls Subjected to In-Plane Loading

ABSTRACT

This article proposes a numerical modeling approach to account for the weakening effect of moisture on the in-plane (lateral) resistance of adobe masonry walls. The approach uses a variable that links the water content of the soil to its strength properties, with varying locations of a moist region in the wall (i.e., length across the wall). A nonlinear, isotropic finite element model was used to study adobe walls at the macro scale. The adequacy of the proposed approach was examined numerically through finite element (FE) analysis for I-shaped adobe walls with varying length and water content of a moist region along the base. The analysis showed that the lateral strength of adobe walls, defined as the maximum force required to cause a given displacement, may drop considerably (up to about 40% for the cases considered) depending on the length, location, and water content of the moist (weakened) region of the wall.

KEYWORDS:

• Adobe
• earth bricks
• earthen construction
• finite element method
• in-plane loading
• lateral strength
• masonry
• moisture damage
• numerical modeling
• push-over curve