In 2010, we merged our Distinct Element Solver and our Multiscale FEM solver to get our unique hybrid FEM/DEM solver for masonry structures.
This new model allows for treating the parts of masonry where the texture is periodic as an equivalent continuum discretised by FEM, and the parts where the texture varies locally (arches, flat-arches, etc.) as an explicit assembly of blocks. For the engineering analyses, standard stresses can be read in the first regions, while thrust lines can be visualised in the latter regions.
We develop SMARTmasonry‘s graphical user interface to allow professional modelling of complex walls, as in this example.
The DE/FE model is the core of our SMARTmasonry software.
References
- [Salvatori L., Spinelli P. (2018). Continuum-discrete multiscale model for in-plane mechanical modeling of masonry panels. Journal of Multiscale Modeling, 9(2):1-25]