Masonry is one of the most used construction materials for structural and non-structural elements. The number of masonry constructions is still remarkable in countries where the costs of modern technology are high, as masonry solutions remain the most convenient and economical alternatives. Among these countries, unreinforced masonry is usually found in low- and mid-rise buildings, both residential and commercial. Developed countries, however, have favored alternative construction materials like reinforced concrete and steel, while masonry is regarded as an aesthetic and non-structural feature. Most objections to masonry construction are based on its lack of seismic performance. However, a substantial number of well- preserved masonry structures demonstrate that when they are built properly, they can withstand any form of loading, such as wind or seismic loads. Thus, masonry buildings’ seismic performance is underrated and experimental research is necessary to gain insight into their response. The studies available in the literature mainly focus on shake table testing of masonry buildings, while they have not been extensively studied in a quasistatic regimen. In this context, a half-scale two-story unreinforced masonry building with plan irregularity has been tested at the Laboratory of the Structures at the University of Minho. The experimental campaign involves cyclic quasi-static testing with a mode proportional unidirectional loading. Dynamic identification and digital image correlation techniques have been employed to monitor the damage progression. The test has resulted in a rocking response under lateral loading, with a wall detachment from the foundation and slab in the first and second levels, respectively. This paper presents and discusses the experimental procedure and the main outcomes of the study.@en

The present work aims to expand the knowledge of the behaviour of masonry corners, which are capital to obtain an integral seismic response in masonry buildings. In particular, the influence of the seismic load orientation (from π/4 to π/2) is investigated experimentally, numerically and analytically. Both units and interfaces have been subjected to a material characterisation process, following which pseudo-static 1:4 scaled experiments on a tilting table have been conducted on a symmetric dry-joint masonry corner. The experimental results have also been simulated using a discrete element model. Finally, a new analytical limit analysis model has been developed, which considers both experimental and numerical observations and accounts for rocking-sliding and flexural mechanisms. In general, a good agreement is found between the three approaches, both in terms of collapse mechanism and load multiplier.@en