Non-standard limit analysis for in-plane loaded masonry walls

This paper presents a macro-block model and a simplified procedure for the assessment of the lateral capacity of in-plane loaded masonry walls made of rigid blocks and frictional joints. The macro-modelling is based on the assumption that the failure involves a single crack which separates the structure in two macro-blocks and all the possible relative motions among micro-blocks are concentrated along the crack. By using a limit-state analysis approach and assuming that the interaction at surfaces is governed by Coulomb friction, two limiting conditions for the ultimate load factor are kinematically computed with simple formulations in closed form, by use of minimization routines. Two illustrative examples of shear walls existing in the literature are used to validate the macro-block model and the solution procedure.