DIC Analysis of Unreinforced Masonry Panels Under Diagonal Compression Using Virtual Gauges and Damage Indicators

Masonry walls subjected to seismic events experience in-plane loadings, primarily inducing diagonal forces. The ASTM-standardized diagonal compression test replicates these conditions on square masonry panels to investigate failure mechanisms and determine the diagonal tensile strength.

Conventional methods measure strains along the diagonals but lack accuracy in representing damage mechanisms in heterogeneous materials like masonry due to their localized nature. To overcome this limitation, Digital Image Correlation (DIC) has emerged as a robust, contactless technique for full-field measurement of surface displacements. This method provides rich insights into strain fields and crack propagation across the specimen.

In this study, DIC data are processed through an adapted methodology to quantify mesoscopic damage distinguishing mortar and blocks, providing deeper insights into the heterogeneous masonry behavior under diagonal compression.