PhD Position Computational Modelling of Mechanics of Masonry Structures

A significant portion of our built environment comprises masonry structures, which are ageing and vulnerable to earthquakes, vibrations as well as settlement-induced damage. Failure of such structures can often be sudden and brittle, leading to significant life and economic losses. Accurate analysis and assessment of these structures is imperative in order to gauge their vulnerability to collapse and facilitate timely interventions if needed. In practice, analysis of such structures is typically conducted using analytical (code-based) assessment methods. However, such methods can be oversimplified and conservative, and consequently lead to expensive and at times unnecessary intervention measures. Alternatively, such structures could be analysed using more detailed numerical modelling tools such as finite element models (FEM) or discrete element methods (DEM). However such tools tend to be computationally expensive and time-consuming, especially when trying to model collapse of larger-scale structural assemblies.

In this project, you will focus on bridging the gap between accuracy and efficiency through the development of novel, computationally-efficient strategies for the numerical modelling of masonry structures subjected to seismic, settlement and/or transient loading. Additionally, you will work on the development and implementation of new constitutive models to more realistically model quasi-brittle failure of such structures within the computational modelling framework. The robustness of the developed approaches will be tested through implementation in different computational modelling software (i.e. FEM vs DEM), as well as through application to the assessment of case studies within the Netherlands. The ultimate objective would be to create novel, practice-oriented modelling tools which can rapidly be utilised by engineers in the field for the seismic and stability assessment of masonry constructions.