ABSTRACT
The series of shaking-table tests presented here is part of an experimental program to identify dynamic behaviour of masonry structures. Previous theoretic and experimental studies conducted by D’Ayala & Speranza; 2003 Restrepo et al., 2004 and Shi & D’Ayala, 2006; Shi et al., 2008, have shown how using limit state analysis and pseudo-static tests is possible to derive a consistent model of behaviour of cracking and damage of historic masonry subjected to lateral action and how the behaviour can be correlated to a relatively small numbers of geometric and structural parameters, without relying on stress analysis. While results of these studies are also confirmed by in situ observation of damage to buildings subjected to earthquakes, their static nature fails to provide insight in the damaging process and hence fails to accurately quantify the strength and “ductility” resources that are available during the hysteretic behaviour. It is argued here that notwithstanding the fact that the constituent materials of masonry, bricks or blocks and mortar, are not ductile, substantial dissipation of energy can take place during the damaging process at the cracks interfaces due to sliding and rocking of portions relative to each other, and hence via friction and impact.
