Experimental testing and finite element modelling of earth block masonry

•Uniaxial compression and diagonal compression tests of masonry wallettes were performed.•Earth block masonry shows a brittle mechanical behaviour under compression.•Test results were modelled with a non-linear model able to describe the cracking behaviour.•The macro-modelling approach shows a satisfactory accuracy and low computational costs.•The micro-modelling approach reproduces the collapse mechanism under shear behaviour.

The current paper focuses on the determination of reliable numerical models of earth block masonry wallettes under different loading conditions. Uniaxial compression and diagonal compression tests were performed. Experimental behaviour was modelled with a non-linear model able to describe the cracking behaviour. The simplified approach based on macro-modelling shows a satisfactory accuracy and low computational costs. The results reproducing the uniaxial compression are in good correspondence with the post-elastic behaviour observed in the experimental campaign. The micro-modelling approach adopted to reproduce the shear behaviour, even with high computational cost, represents a suitable tool to predict the masonry collapse mechanism.