Out-of-plane static and dynamic response of masonry panels

Out-of-plane mechanisms induced by earthquakes are typical of many masonry structures such as standing out elements (spires, battlements of fortresses, etc.) or portions of façade badly connected to the building. The displacement-based assessment procedures in standards are based on the hypothesis of rigid block, which sometimes is unable to represent their actual behaviour; furthermore, very few information is available on dissipation, which is assumed as an equivalent viscous damping, usually kept constant to 5%. The paper illustrates the results of an experimental campaign on three mock-ups subjected to static and dynamic out-of-plane actions with the aim to verify the reliability of these assumptions for traditional irregular stone masonry panels under rocking.