SIMULATION TOOLS TO SUPPORT THE UNDERSTANDING OF PHYSICAL PHENOMENA IN MASONRY

A big amount of physical phenomena affect to the brick facades, such as gravity, temperature, wind or moisture changes. Each of these phenomena influences the behavior and durability of the masonry element. The master classes have been the traditional way to transmit this knowledge to students. The consequences of these phenomena were not directly seen in these theoretical lessons, so that the students did not see the consequences until their real practice of architecture. This teaching experience develops a novel methodology that helps students of architecture to visualize these phenomena and their pathological consequences of a more interactive. So it provides students with tools to prevent future damages in construction. Current tools are able to display a wide range of physical phenomena in a graphical and realistic way. Therefore the students can study and internalize the behavior of the masonry. The experience of the teaching staff confirms the effectiveness of this methodology. This aspect is demonstrated in the widespread success of students in qualifications obtained. The main steps of this methodology are three. First, there is a brief theoretical explanation that places the student in front of reality with which to deal. In this step of the course notes will be used. The notes include a catalog of construction details and photographs of existing cases. Second, students complete an practice in the computer using facade models. This phase is very important because the students interacts with the program and internalize the processes of cracking, deformation, stress, temperature, wind pressure, steam or moisture. By viewing colormaps, students can see and fully understand these phenomena and link between them, for example see the influence of moisture on the deformation. Finally, measures the success of the methodology by conducting a short test. We have shown that the use of simulated models is a great learning aid. The new aspect of this methodology is the interactivity in physical phenomena.