Masonry Buildings Under Seismic Actions

This last chapter deals with the study of the seismic behaviour of historic masonry buildings. Starting point of the chapter is the remark that traditional masonry buildings have not been built to offer any resistance to horizontal actions. This is why most of the seismic damage occurs in old historic centres, as well as why there is currently such a great demand to determine the most suitable means to reinforce them. The first sections of the chapter are focused to point out that, contrariwise to steel or reinforced concrete structures, that can oppose the seismic action by using their ductility, masonry constructions don’t dissipate energy during their deformation, even if accompanied by cracks. If properly reinforced, to avoid early local failures, masonry constructions have the sole resource to escape the seismic action exhibiting rocking without failure, under alternate seismic action. A constant acceleration impulse, of a suitable duration, can represent the seismic action. A ...