Limit analysis for masonry walls discretized in staggered rigid macro-blocks subjected to out-of-plane loading

In this work we have investigated the role that some geometric characteristics have in the evaluation of collapse multiplier for masonry walls discretized in rigid blocks and subjected to out-of-plane loading. We have pursued this objective applying simple software and computational methodologies to masonry walls constituted by few courses and blocks, in order to study the trend of collapse multiplier and after to extend the results obtained to try a prevision of collapse multiplier for walls having a grater number of blocks. The solution is obtained through a linear formulation founded on the static theorem of the limit analysis in observance of the following mechanical features: sliding with dilatancy for blocks, inability to carry tension and unlimited compressive strength for the contact interfaces. The collapse load and the respective mechanism have been evaluated making use of Excel’s solver.