A micromechanical model for linear homogenization of brick masonry

A micromechanical model, originally developed for long-fiber composites, is applied to determination of the overall linear-elastic mechanical properties of simple-texture brick masonry. The model relies upon exact solution after Eshelby and describes brickwork as a mortar matrix with insertions of elliptic cylinder-shaped bricks. The macroscopic elastic constants are derived from the mechanical properties of the constituent materials and the phase volume ratios. The ability of the suggested model to predict the behavior of real brickwork has been checked by performing uniaxial compression tests on brick masonry panels of two types, with cement mortar and lime mortar. The results obtained through the proposed model fit experimental data more closely than other models selected from the literature for the sake of comparison.