Thermomechanical Modelling of Refractory Mortarless Masonry Wall Subjected to Biaxial Compression

International audience; Mortarless refractory masonry is widely used in the steel industry for the linings of high-temperature components such as steel ladles and furnaces. Successful design of these large-sized structures requires a proper understanding of the interaction between material discontinuity introduced by the presence of mortarless joints, joints closure and reopening due to loading/unloading, and their effect on the thermomechanical response of the structure. In the present study, 3D thermomechanical models have been developed to analyze the effects of joints reopening on the thermomechanical behavior of mortarless masonry walls. Four joint patterns, with their corresponding equivalent elastic properties, have been defined based on the state of head and bed joints (open or closed). The effective elastic properties of each joint pattern have been calculated with the help of the finite element method and the strain energy-based homogenization technique. The joints reopening and closure criteria have been defined as a function of macroscopic stresses and strains. The developed material model has been implemented in a commercial finite element software and then used to analyze the thermomechanical behavior of refractory masonry walls. The numerical model has been validated by comparing the numerical results with experimental data (biaxial compression test of a flat wall). Both results are in good agreement.