Shake-table testing of a stone masonry building aggregate: overview of blind prediction study

Abstract City centres of Europe are often composed unreinforced masonry structural aggregates, whose seismic response is challenging to predict. To advance the state art on these Adjacent Interacting Masonry Structures (AIMS) subproject from Horizon 2020 project Seismology and Earthquake Engineering Research Infrastructure Alliance for (SERA) provides shake-table test data a two-unit, double-leaf stone aggregate subjected two horizontal components dynamic excitation. A blind prediction was organized with participants academia industry modelling approaches assumptions learn about extent uncertainty in such aggregates. The were provided full set material geometrical data, construction details original input asked predict prior expected terms damage mechanisms, base-shear forces, roof displacements. used differ significantly level detail assumptions. This paper an overview adopted their subsequent predictions. It further discusses range made when walls, floors connections, aims at discovering how common solutions regarding general, aggregates particular, affect results. results evaluated both base shear displacements interface openings directions, then compared experimental featuring Discrete Element Method (DEM) led best predictions displacements, while submission using rigid block limit analysis mechanisms. Large coefficients variation predicted general underestimation comparison results, except DEM models, highlight need consensus building suitable