Dynamic response of dry ashlar masonry arch using discrete element method

Abstract

The nonlinear dynamic response of the ashlar masonry arch is obtained for harmonic support excitations. The UDEC software is used for performing the analysis which duly accounts for the non-linearity arising due to the friction existing between the two ashlar masonry block units. The analysis is performed for two frequencies and five peak ground acceleration (PGA) levels assuming the support excitation to be harmonic. Deformation of the arch is mapped with the help of the displacements of the centroids of the arch masonry block units. The dynamic behavior and stability of the arch are investigated under two parametric variations, namely, the PGA and height to span (H/L) ratio of the arch. The analysis shows that the failure of arch takes place with bulging near the end segments of the arch creating large gaps between the ashlar masonry units. Further, as the frequency of excitation is increased, the arch becomes more stable; it also appears that there exists an optimum value of the H/L ratio for which the dynamic stability of the arch is maximum.