Using DEM to Investigate Boundary Conditions for Rocking URM Facades Subjected to Earthquake Motion

Façade overturning is a frequently observed collapse mechanism occurring in unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings during high-intensity, earthquake-induced shaking. Following complete separation from building, the rocking motion of URM façade and associated impact against return walls are factors that continue to contribute out-of-plane capacity. Seismic vulnerability studies façades have historically neglected interaction between building earthquake response façade, whereas study reported herein this was analyzed using discrete element modeling (DEM) approach, resulting capacity reduction. The increment dynamic caused by frictional connection also reported.