Extending Analysis Capabilities of Equivalent Frame Models for Masonry Structures

The equivalent frame modeling of masonry buildings is widely used if not a real standard for the nonlinear seismic analysis of masonry buildings. Originally created to represent the in-plane behavior of the walls in the plan, it was subsequently applied for the analysis of three-dimensional models of entire buildings. In current standards and also in the new draft of Eurocode 8 this modeling technique retains a key role for the analysis of masonry structures. Recent developments and applications reflect the analysis capabilities subsequently added to this modeling technique, often derived after calibration with experimental results and/or detailed numerical models. They include pushover and time-history analysis features, inclusion of strength and stiffness contributions of the out-of-plane response of walls and floor/roof diaphragms, discretization of walls with irregular opening distributions, modelling strategies applicable to complex buildings with flexible diaphragms.