Investigating the Effect of Brickwork Patterns on Response of Masonry Walls Under Blast Load

Authors

  • Sipho Gcinangaye Thango University of KwaZulu Natal, Department of Civil Engineering, Durban 4041, South Africa
  • Siphesihle Mpho Motsa University of KwaZulu Natal, Department of Civil Engineering, Durban 4041, South Africa
  • Georgios E. Stavroulakis Technical University of Crete, School of Production Engineering & Management, 73100 Chania, Crete, Greece
  • Georgios A. Drosopoulos University of KwaZulu Natal, Department of Civil Engineering, Durban 4041, South Africa, Department of Civil Engineering, International Hellenic University, Serres, 62124, Greece

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13052/ejcm2642-2085.3412

Keywords:

Blast, Masonry, Mortar, In plane, Out of plane, Brick patterns

Abstract

Architects consider the brickwork patterns vital for the aesthetics of the walls. The different brick bonding patterns can influence the resistance of masonry walls when subject to in-plane and out-of-plane loading. This study investigates the effect of different bonding patterns under a blast load of 50 kg TNT at a standoff distance of 20 m. Advanced non-linear finite element models were adopted, considering unilateral contact-friction and continuum damage mechanics laws, to capture different failure types. The adoption of a simplified micro-modelling approach provided meaningful results on the behaviour of the wall. The in-plane and out-of-plane response of walls with different bonding patterns was investigated and comparisons were made. This study concluded that the stack bond has a weaker binding pattern than other widely used bonds like English bond and Stretcher bond due to the lack of interlocking between the masonry units. Shear failure and vertical cracking were seen as the typical failures in all the three walls, with the stack bond depicting higher deflections under both in-plane and blast loading.

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Author Biographies

Sipho Gcinangaye Thango, University of KwaZulu Natal, Department of Civil Engineering, Durban 4041, South Africa

Sipho Gcinangaye Thango is currently a practising Structural Engineer with vast experience in the analysis and modelling of structures. He holds a PhD degree from University of KwaZulu Natal. He received a master’s degree from the University of Witwatersrand in 2018. He is currently part of the UKZN research group (Structural Engineering & Computational Group).

Siphesihle Mpho Motsa, University of KwaZulu Natal, Department of Civil Engineering, Durban 4041, South Africa

Siphesihle Mpho Motsa is currently a practising Structural Engineer with vast experience in the analysis and modelling of masonry structures. He holds a PhD degree from University of KwaZulu Natal. He has been author of publications in international journals and conferences proceedings. Dr. Motsa finished his undergraduate studies in Civil Engineering, UKZN, in 2017. In 2018 he completed his MSc studies on the concept of non-linear finite element analysis for masonry structures. He is currently part of the UKZN research group (Structural Engineering & Computational Group).

Georgios E. Stavroulakis, Technical University of Crete, School of Production Engineering & Management, 73100 Chania, Crete, Greece

George E. Stavroulakis obtained his PhD from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in 1991. His research activities are focused on the development of theory, algorithms, and software for the solution of modern computational mechanics and optimization problems. The development of scientific software deals with topics of structural analysis, computational mechanics, and optimization as well as the support of relevant research and development activities, in close cooperation with various partners. Dr. Stavroulakis is a Professor at Technical University of Crete, Greece and leads the Computational Mechanics and Optimization institute (COMECO).

Georgios A. Drosopoulos, University of KwaZulu Natal, Department of Civil Engineering, Durban 4041, South Africa, Department of Civil Engineering, International Hellenic University, Serres, 62124, Greece

Georgios A. Drosopoulos completed the post-doctoral research programme in Leibniz University of Hannover, Germany and Technical University of Crete, Greece, Prof. Drosopoulos was appointed as a Senior Lecturer in Civil Engineering at UKZN (July 2016). In November 2019, he was promoted to Associate Professor. From 2020–2024 he worked as Lecturer in University of Central Lancashire, UK. Since 2024 he works as Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering, International Hellenic University in Greece.

His research focuses on problems related to data-driven analysis for structural mechanics, contact mechanics, multi-scale homogenization for the investigation of the microscopic level of composite materials, non-linear finite element analysis of masonry structures, auxetic materials, topology optimization and homogenization, non-linear finite element analysis for steel structures. Recently his research focuses on the structural evaluation and optimization of Graphene and Carbon-Nanotube reinforced composite materials.

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Published

2025-07-08

How to Cite

Thango, S. G. ., Motsa, S. M. ., Stavroulakis, G. E. ., & Drosopoulos, G. A. . (2025). Investigating the Effect of Brickwork Patterns on Response of Masonry Walls Under Blast Load. European Journal of Computational Mechanics, 34(02), 29–54. https://doi.org/10.13052/ejcm2642-2085.3412

Issue

2025: Vol 34 Iss 1

Section

Original Article