Vault macro-element with equivalent trusses in global seismic analyses

Abstract

This paper proposes a quick and simplified method to describe masonry vaults in global seismic analyses of buildings. An equivalent macro-element constituted by a set of six trusses, two for each transverse, longitudinal and diagonal direction, is introduced. The equivalent trusses, whose stiffness is calculated by fully modeled vaults of different geometry, mechanical properties and boundary conditions, simulate the vault in both global analysis and local analysis, such as kinematic or rocking approaches. A parametric study was carried out to investigate the influence of geometrical characteristics and mechanical features on the equivalent stiffness values. The method was numerically validated by performing modal and transient analysis on a three naves-church in the elastic range. Vibration modes and displacement time-histories were compared showing satisfying agreement between the complete and the simplified models. This procedure is particularly useful in engineering practice because it allows to assess, in a simplified way, the effectiveness of strengthening interventions for reducing horizontal relative displacements between vault supports.

In situ free‐vibration tests on unrestrained and restrained rocking masonry walls

“…Such local behavior can be investigated by considering limit analysis and/or rocking approaches. For what concerns the first ones, collapse mechanisms are analyzed to define force and displacement capacities of walls and masonry arches, for which strengthening by means of traditional and innovative techniques improves also the global structural behavior . Rocking approaches generally apply when dealing with out‐of‐plane modes.…”

“…For what concerns the first ones, collapse mechanisms are analyzed to define force and displacement capacities of walls and masonry arches, 2 for which strengthening by means of traditional and innovative techniques 3,4 improves also the global structural behavior. 5,6 Rocking approaches generally apply when dealing with out-of-plane modes. The out-of-plane response of walls is a relevant issue because, compared to in-plane failure, out-of-plane failure has more severe consequences for people both inside and outside the construction.…”

Nonlinear Static and Dynamic Analysis of Rocking Masonry Corners Using Rigid Macro-Block Modeling

“…from phase 1 to phase 2 is expected to occur at the displacement d G0 ¼ 0:49 m, calculated using Eq. (8).…”

“…5,6 However, the assessment of the rocking and overturning response of rigid blocks to earthquakes is still a complex task due to the large variability of the mechanical properties of the materials, the uncertainty about the construction sequence and the high sensitivity of the models to the input motion, variations in geometry and dissipation issues, especially for historical constructions. [7][8][9][10] Several methods and tools based on di®erent approaches have lately been attempted to address this complex but valuable topic. In fact, as comprehensively discussed in Refs.…”

The role of different sliding resistances in limit analysis of hemispherical masonry domes

“…Finding the ultimate load factor, together with the stress state and failure mechanisms for models with basic geometries, is a classical problem also solved through other structural analysis methods such as Finite Element (FE) analysis, including detailed and simplified finite element micro models [27][28][29], and Discrete Element (DE) analysis [30][31][32]. On the other hand, further approaches have been proposed to simplify the static and dynamic analysis of masonry structures assumed as assemblages of rigid blocks, such as equivalent macro-elements constituted by a set of trusses to describe masonry vaults [33] and one-sided motion of rocking rigid blocks [34,35]. However, limit analysis approach is less computationally expensive still highly accurate, compared to other computational methods.…”