Shape Optimization of Hollow Concrete Blocks Using the Lattice Discrete Particle Model
Hollow concrete blocks are one of the widely used building elements of masonry structures in whichthey are normally loaded under combined action of shear and compression. Accordingly and due to theirstructural importance, the present study intends to numerically search for an optimum shape of such b...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Babol Noshirvani University of Technology
2013-01-01
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| Series: | Iranica Journal of Energy and Environment |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.ijee.net/Journal/ijee/vol4/no3/10.pdf |
| Summary: | Hollow concrete blocks are one of the widely used building elements of masonry structures in whichthey are normally loaded under combined action of shear and compression. Accordingly and due to theirstructural importance, the present study intends to numerically search for an optimum shape of such blocks.The optimality index is selected to be the ratio of block’s failure strength to its weight, a non-dimensionalparameter, which needs to be maximized. The nonlinear analysis has been done using a homemade code writtenbased on the recently developed Lattice Discrete Particle Model (LDPM) for the meso-scale simulation ofconcrete. This numerical approach accounts for the different aspects of concrete’s complex behavior such astensile fracturing, cohesive and frictional shearing and also its nonlinear compressive response. The modelparameters were calibrated against previously reported experimental data. Various two-core configurations forthe hollow blocks are examined, compared and discussed. |
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| ISSN: | 2079-2115 2079-2123 |