Response of historic masonry structures to tectonic ground displacement

The response of historic masonry buildings subjected to tectonically induced ground distress is studied through analysis of a simple yet representative soil–foundation–masonry wall system. A hybrid methodology is adopted to rigorously account for the multiple response nonlinearities, combining a validated 3D FE model for simulation of fault rupture–soil–foundation interaction with a well-established nonlinear macro-element model for simulation of the response of masonry panels. It comprises two steps: (a) calculation of the foundation displacements due to interaction with the fault rupture assuming elastic superstructural response, and (b) analysis of the nonlinear response of the masonry wall subjected to the foundation displacements of the first step, to predict its consequent damage. Following a sensitivity analysis of the effect of the exact location of the structure with respect to the fault, the paper discusses several characteristic mechanisms of response to reverse fault rupture and assesses the associated masonry damage.