To quickly and efficiently solve the posed packing problem of each stone, we proposed a general-purpose heuristic algorithm that benefits from Pareto's principle which is commonly known as the 80/20 rule. The size spectrum, distribution, interlocking and topology of the generated stones were thoroughly investigated. The herein-created microstructure generator borrowed the conventional packing problem analogy to pack the generated stones inside the boundary of the walls following building and physical placement rules to obtain realistic microstructures. The first contribution of this thesis was crafting the first 3D virtual microstructure generator that can cover the main typologies of stone masonry that are frequently found in historical buildings. The focus of this dissertation is to study the geometry of the 3D microstructure of stone masonry walls at multiple scales, which opens unprecedented opportunities for studying the micromechanical behaviour of these walls numerically. However, methods for generating 3D microstructures were lacking. Numerical simulations that explicitly represent the microstructure of the wall (i.e., the geometry and arrangement of the stones) can complement experimental studies. Although experimental campaigns are crucial in understanding the structural behaviour of these walls, the wide spectrum of existing stone masonry typologies and the randomness in geometry and material properties render extensive testing campaigns nearly impossible to account for all the uncertainties and variables. Stone masonry is a composite material that is built with stones and binding mortar. As historical stone masonry structures are vulnerable and prone to damage in earthquakes, investigating their structural integrity is important to reduce injuries and casualties while preserving their historical value.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |