Proposal of a simple expression for predicting the horizontal capacity of masonry walls

In this paper, a simple expression for predicting the horizontal capacity of multistorey unreinforced masonry frames is proposed and discussed in the framework of limit analysis approach. To this aim, the panels of Convent of San Carlo all'Arena in Naples has been analyzed via nonlinear static analysis. The results have been compared with the values provided by the application of the proposed simple expressions, which only depend on geometrical parameters and external loads. The results show that the values obtained with the simplified formula are very close to the values obtained by pushover analysis, especially if higher compressive strength values are assumed, and the scatters assume greater values as the irregularity in the arrangement of the openings in the vertical and horizontal direction increases.