Verification of the flexion and shear behavior in masonry panels accordance to ABNT NBR 15961-1 (2011), EN 1996-1-1 (2005) and ACI TMS 530 (2013)

This paper presents a numerical analysis of the mechanical behavior of structural masonry panels submitted to horizontal and vertical stresses. To evaluate the design process of these structures, the results obtained by the computer simulations were compared with the results determined by the design criteria of ABNT NBR 15961-1 (2011), ACI TMS 530 (2013) and EN 1996-1-1 (2005). The finite element software DIANA v.9.3 was used to simulate two-dimensional models with the simplified micro modelling procedure. The results obtained by the normative standards were more conservative than the results of the numerical model, as expected. With the increase of the pre-compression level, the computer simulation has demonstrated the increasing trend of the values of resistant forces, besides the change of the way of rupture of the panels. Among the three standards evaluated, the American Standard was the most conservative.