Buckling and post-buckling analysis of masonry walls using Virtual Elements and cohesive interfaces

This paper focuses on a novel and computationally efficient large-displacement methodology utilizing a corotational approach for the stability analysis of masonry structural elements. By virtue of the flexibility offered by the Virtual Element Method, each brick is modeled using a single Virtual Element. In contrast, the mortar layer is modeled through multiple cohesive damage-frictional elements. Furthermore, the adopted Virtual Element formulation does not require stabilization. The advantages of the proposed approach are showcased through several examples demonstrating the striking accuracy of the obtained results compared to analytical solutions. The proposed approach is used to assess the sensitivity of the load-bearing capacity and ductility of masonry walls under vertical loading to mortar tensile strength, boundary conditions, load eccentricity, and block irregularity.