Experimental and numerical simulations of stone blocks at the archeological site of Volubilis, Morocco

Key Points

• This research compares experimental results on stone samples with outcomes from numerical models to identify the best simulation method for Roman structures.
• Conducted compression and tensile tests on cylindrical stone specimens.
• Compared experimental results with two numerical models: Concrete Model in ANSYS and Concrete Damage Plasticity model in ABAQUS.
• Analyzed mechanical behavior of the stone derived from both experimental and numerical approaches.
• Identified variations in mechanical behavior between experimental and numerical outcomes.
• Concrete Model and Concrete Damage Plasticity models produced differing results, highlighting the need for careful model selection.
• The study suggests one model may more accurately represent the stone used in the Triumphal Arch.