Seismic numerical investigation on historical centres compounds: a new modelling technique of structural units

Historical centres are often constituted of a series of masonry building compounds very vulnerable to earthquakes, whose static non-linear behaviour is not predicted by building codes. This paper propose a simplified modelling approach to predict the seismic response of structural units into masonry building compounds. This approach is based on the equivalent frame method modelling, a technique easy to be implemented within finite element method calculation programs. The modelling technique has been applied to investigate constructions representative of Southern Italy building aggregates erected during the past decades. Firstly, the whole aggregates have been modelled and analysed in order to evaluate the seismic behaviour of structural units having intermediate, heading and corner positions. Later on, the seismic response of these structural units has been assessed by modelling the single units as isolated structures with appropriate boundary conditions to consider, in a simplified way, their position in the aggregate and, therefore, the influence of other constructions. Finally, comparison of the achieved results has been carried out in order to confirm the effectiveness of the proposed analysis approach.