A Novel Strategy for the Equivalent Frame Modelling of Masonry Arches in Historic Buildings: Application to a Case Study

Equivalent frame (EF) methods are increasingly used to evaluate the global seismic response of historic masonry buildings. However, applying these methods to arched structures is challenging due to the lack of a standard EF strategy for masonry arches. This paper proposes a novel EF modelling solution for masonry arches in historic buildings subject to seismic actions. The proposed strategy, which consists in modelling arches as inclined hinged beams, is presented through the application to a case study, the Giuseppe Verdi Politeama Theatre in Carrara, Italy. Nonlinear static analyses were first performed on a finite element (FE) macro-model of a representative arch-pillar system found in the building. The numerical results in terms of damage mechanisms and capacity curves allowed the development of an EF modelling strategy for masonry arches. This strategy was then applied to a three-dimensional EF model of the Politeama Theatre to evaluate its global seismic response through nonlinear static analyses. The results demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed strategy in accurately simulating the contribution of the arches in resisting horizontal actions.