Comparison between rocking analysis and kinematic analysis for the dynamic out‐of‐plane behavior of masonry walls

TLDR

Boundary conditions such as vaults, transverse walls, or steel tie‑rods represent horizontal restraints in masonry walls. The study compares rocking analysis of masonry walls with the kinematic analysis prescribed by the Italian code. The authors modify the Housner rigid‑block equation to incorporate varying boundary conditions at different wall heights and conduct a systematic analysis of walls with diverse dimensions and slenderness, comparing results from the Italian code and rocking analysis. The kinematic analysis is found to be generally over‑conservative, making it unsuitable for historic buildings, while rocking analysis shows improved performance and retrofitting devices reduce amplitude ratios. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Abstract

Summary This paper provides a contribution to the rocking analysis of masonry walls by making a comparison with the kinematic analysis suggested by the Italian code. It is shown that the latter approach is generally over‐conservative and therefore potentially inappropriate for historic buildings, where rehabilitation can be expensive and can affect their cultural value. The equation of motion given by the Housner formulation, corresponding to the movement of a rigid block, is here modified to account for different boundary conditions at different heights of the wall. These boundary conditions or horizontal restraints can represent vaults, transverse walls, or retrofitting devices such as steel tie‐rods. A systemic analysis of walls having different dimensions and slenderness is performed, and the results from the Italian code and rocking analysis are compared. Finally, the improvement in the response offered by retrofitting devices is discussed in terms of reduction of amplitude ratio. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.