Effect of Precompression and Material Uncertainty on the In-Plane Behavior of URM Pier–Spandrel Systems

Theoretical and experimental studies on loadbearing masonry walls have shown the significant influence of axial load level (i.e., precompression) wall aspect ratio in-plane lateral resistance. Nonetheless, impact precompression spatial variability material properties needs to be further investigated at scale with openings. This study presents a stochastic analysis unreinforced (URM) pier–spandrel systems subjected both loads piers loads, considering variation in properties. A discontinuum-based computational model was utilized assess force–displacement behavior benchmark structure under different vertical levels piers. total 750 simulations were carried out propagate uncertainties analysis. The proposed modeling strategy, based discrete element method, explicitly represents joint openings, sliding, crushing phenomena contact points defined between adjacent rigid blocks. According validated meaningful inferences made regarding effect maximum displacement ultimate load-carrying capacity URM system. results showed that pressure had considerable ductility system while yielding less capacity. Furthermore, appealing feature probabilistic is noted structural