Hello everyone,
I am currently modeling a masonry vaulted bridge as a 2D model (simplified micromodel). The stones are modeled as linear-elastic surfaces, and the mortar joints as line releases.
For the release in the local z-direction uz, I have defined "Partial Effect" (see image 1):
- Tension: failure from 0.05 kN/m (simulation of the missing tensile strength / joint opens)
- Compression: yielding from 4090 kN/m
This works flawlessly for almost all joints. However, for the critical, most highly loaded joints, I am getting illogical result patterns (see image 2):
Over about half the length of the joint, a positive deformation uz occurs (the joint opens up to approx. 0.3 mm). However, in the same area, the force vz curve still shows compressive forces instead of dropping to 0 kN/m. Furthermore, the compressive force curve exhibits an unnatural kink exactly where the joint begins to open.
My questions about this:
- Could this be a display issue in RFEM 6?
- Did I possibly make a conceptual error when defining the line release?
- How can I adjust the model so that when the displacement uz > 0, the compressive force becomes physically correctly exactly zero?
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