Realizing the Creep and Damage Effect on Masonry Panel Design Based on Reliability Analysis

Area of Science:

• Structural Engineering
• Materials Science
• Computational Mechanics

Background:

• Masonry structures are complex composite materials.
• Creep and load redistribution significantly affect masonry panel performance over time.
• Existing reliability models do not fully capture the behavior of quasi-brittle masonry components.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a time-dependent reliability analysis for composite masonry panels.
• To propose a novel reliability index for quasi-brittle materials.
• To calibrate partial safety factors for masonry design considering creep and damage.

Main Methods:

• Modeling masonry as a composite unit cell of mortar and brick.
• Performing step-by-step in-time analysis for load redistribution.
• Implementing time-dependent system reliability analysis with component and system limit states.
• Utilizing the Hasofer and Lind method for safety factor calibration.

Main Results:

• Load redistribution due to creep in composite masonry was quantified.
• A new reliability index for quasi-brittle materials was proposed, dependent on both local and global loads.
• Partial safety factors were calibrated for masonry design, incorporating creep and damage effects.

Conclusions:

• The proposed reliability index accurately reflects quasi-brittle material behavior in masonry.
• Calibrated partial safety factors enhance the design of masonry panels against creep and damage.
• This research provides a more robust framework for time-dependent reliability assessment of masonry structures.