Abstract:
In this study, we have proposed a new 3-D Applied Element Method (AEM) as an analysis tool for
understanding the polypropylene band retrofitted masonry behavior which will be benefit in the future design
process and increase the degree of freedoms of failure mode. Unlike the previous version of 3-D AEM, elements
can be any rectangular prism which helps reducing the number of elements. Brick and mortar springs are
represented by using different spring properties. Nonlinear constitutive law of the mortar spring employed the
Gambarotta model which considers the material softening. Polypropylene band is modeled as beam element
using plastic constitutive law connected together with the masonry by elastic spring representing the
polypropylene band to brick connector. The numerical simulation of non-retrofitted and retrofitted out of plane
wallets shows that with the suitable selected parameter the behavior of masonry can be closely reproduced
