Our research focuses on how new computational tools and design methods can support the design process of masonry buildings. Specifically we discuss the potential of parametric modeling technologies to promote innovation by embedding knowledge on masonry construction as both generative rules and checker functions. Their goal is to inform designers on the feasibility of their intents on early sta...

Despite considerable experimental and analytical research in the past, modern regulations still adopt very conservative simplified formulas for the compressive strength of masonry. The present paper contributes to the understanding of masonry under compression, using a novel non-linear homogenisation tool that includes the possibility of tensile and compressive progressive damage, both in the u...

confined masonry buildings are used in rural and urban areas of iran. they performed almost satisfactoryduring past moderate earthquakes of iran. there is not a methodology in iranian seismic code (standard 2800-3rdedition) to estimate their capacities quantitatively. in line with removing this constraint, an attempt is made to studyin-plane behavior of two squared confined masonry walls with a...

Burnt bricks lined with mortar were among the materials used in the construction of historical load-bearing structures. The need to know the strength characteristics of masonry material arises during repairs of historical structures and their subsequent static securing. These can be investigated either by sampling a masonry specimen, or the employment of non-destructive testing methods. With de...

Abstract An ultrasonic technique has been experimented for non destructive testing of building structures. The Through Transmission Technique has been applied, processing the wave incident on a grid of detecting probes after it has been transmitted through a trachite stone masonry with an inside cavity. Several parameters associated with acoustic waves propagating through the structure have bee...

The paper presents a plastic analysis procedure based on the energy balance concept for performance based seismic retrofit of multi-story multi-bay masonry infilled reinforced concrete (R/C) frames with a ‘soft’ ground story using passive energy dissipation (PED) devices with the objective of achieving a target performance level of the retrofitted R/C frame for a given seismic hazard level at t...

an experimental study is conducted on three ½ scales, single-story, single-bay, frame specimens. the first specimen was a reinforced concrete frame with solid-brick infill. the second specimen was a reinforced concrete frame with hollow clay perforated-brick infill. the last specimen was a reinforced concrete frame without any infill. these three specimens were tested by pseudostatic method. di...

This paper presents a new numerical tool for evaluating the vibration frequencies and mode shapes of masonry buildings in the presence of cracks. The algorithm has been implemented within the NOSA-ITACA code, which models masonry as a nonlinear elastic material with zero tensile strength. Some case studies are reported, and the differences between linear and nonlinear behaviour highlighted.