A constitutive equation and a closed-form solution for no-tension beams with limited compressive strength

A constitutive equation for no-tension beams with limited compressive strength is presented. It is applied to the study of a masonry beam clamped at the ends and subjected to a pre-compression and to a transversal force of increasing intensity applied to the middle section. For each value of,the force and of the pre-compression the beam axis comes out to be subdivided into intervals, on each of which appropriate differential equations involving both axial and transverse displacements hold. The intervals are not known a priori and the equations are non-linear and coupled. The solution is determined in closed form up to collapse. (C) 2004 Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.