FE Modelling of Experimental Brickwork Masonry Building Under Eccentric Shear Force

This paper compares theoretical results with the experimental investigation developed in the laboratory at the University of Edinburgh on a five-storey masonry building model in scale 1:3. In the case of masonry structures, unfortunately, the control of the theoretical results obtained by FE analysis is often hard although it is fundamental to verify the actual procedure of calculus both in the rehabilitation and in the project of new masonry structures.

The aim of this work is to describe the response under lateral loading of a masonry building model prototype analysis by means of FE linear elastic modelling, assessing its performance through the comparison between the theoretical results and the experimental data. A non-linear static FE analysis has been also performed to investigate the actual ductile capacity of the structural system in relation to the different eccentricities of loadings.

Finally, the results of linear elastic analysis and non linear have been shown and discussed. The capacity of the ground floor’s walls of the building in shear, bending and torsional moments has been evaluated and discussed.