Numerical simulation of brick-masonry subjected to the double flat-jack test

In the present paper, we describe the results obtained from double flat-jack tests performed varying the size of the masonry prism involved in the test. In addition, not only the deformations have been acquired, but also the acoustic emissions (AE), in order to get information about local cracking during the test. We present a meso-scale numerical model of the test, where every brick of the masonry is modeled in the details. Discrete cracks can arise both in the mortar joints and in the brick units. A good correlation is found between the amount of cracking simulated numerically and the experimental acoustic emissions for different prism sizes. The model is also able to catch the decrease in the compressive strength with increasing size. It is not possible to obtain an easy direct relation between the acoustic emission and the amount of cracking; nevertheless, it is possible to state that the two quantities are proportional to each other when increasing sizes are considered.