ABSTRACT
Many simple methods of analysis for the overall performance of masonry structures can be found; almost all of them are performed to provide safe statements about the stability of this type of structures. This chapter proposes a combination of qualitative results of quantitative methods and an experimental method. The results obtained using these qualitative comparisons provide new perspectives for the study of local behavior of masonry structures. A correct systematization of these combinations may be useful for the assessment of this type of masonry structures. Photoelasticity applied to structural analysis use photoelasticity in order to identify, at least qualitatively, the effect of the discontinuity of the material on the pattern of contact stresses caused by external actions. The chapter aims to determine the relevance and interest of photoelastic tests, and compares their results with the most common numerical analysis methods in order to know the degree of approximation between them.
