Some recent results and open issues on interface modeling in civil engineering structures

Interfaces between different materials deeply influence the mechanical performance of load-bearing structures in several engineering fields. A reliable predictive ability of this performance thus requires a sound mechanical understanding of the interfacial behavior and of its implications on macroscopic design-related quantities such as strength, stiffness and ductility. This paper focuses on three interface-related topics, with special emphasis on the civil engineering context: (i) modeling of debonding at interfaces between fiber-reinforced polymer strengthening systems, in the form of externally bonded laminates or near-surface mounted reinforcement, and the structural member to be strengthened, be it a beam or an arch; (ii) modeling of impact at interfaces between voussoirs in masonry arches under ground accelerations; (iii) novel computational methods to improve the numerical treatment of interfaces undergoing contact or debonding. The paper provides an overview of some of the author's contributions on the aforementioned aspects, and outlines some possible directions for further research.