Simulation of shear response of masonry panels under flat-jack testing

The present investigation concerns the simulation of the shear response of masonry panel setups that are being considered for experimental flat-jack testing. The purpose of the simulations is that of enquiring the feasibility of main geometric and loading features and of outlining first results on stress/strain and damage/fracture fields that may be expected after the experiments. Two flat-jack configurations are investigated. Simulations show that the considered setups seem reasonably well set and put forward benchmark results for possible optimization and later confrontation with future experimental outcomes, in view of achieving a qualitative and quantitative identification of the shear response of the wall.