Critical plane approach: Application to seismic analysis of masonry structures

This paper deals with formulation/application of the critical plane approach to seismic analysis of masonry structures. Starting from the level of constituents, i.e. mortar and bricks, the macroscopic strength properties of masonry are established based on a numerical homogenization. The results are verified against available experimental data. Subsequently, this procedure is implemented to identify the properties of brick masonry used in a physical model tests conducted at IEEES, Skopje. Given these properties, a dynamic FE analysis of a shaking table experiment, involving a scaled four storey masonry building, is conducted. © 2007 Taylor & Francis Group.