Sliding collapse in masonry structures : a numerical model

Abstract

A probabilistic Non-Standard Limit Analysis based method is proposed to do safety assessments of historical masonry structures when collapse develops under sliding movements. The problem is presented as an Unilateral Contact Problem, formulated as a Complementarity Problem and solved as a Sequential Linear Programming with random starting points. The implemented method is a Monte Carlo type method that consists in: 1) fixing random points of application; 2) calculating the maximum value of the point load by Linear Programming; 3) making sure that the solution is in the onset of collapse; 4) rejecting the solutions that do not meet the requirements; 5) calculating the minimum value of the point load that would promote the collapse while keeping the same values of the limit conditions. The results are compared with a set of thirty three sliding tests carried out on dry masonry walls.