Numerical investigation of historic masonry walls under normal and shear load

The behaviour of masonry under seismic loads has recently become of great interest. New methods for design and analysis, as well as for resistance, have been developed. The main focus has been on experimental and analytical research for the development of new brick material and mortar. With the introduction of Eurocode 8, the behaviour of old masonry structures under seismic load became an interesting topic for engineers. In particular, the available resistance capacity of existing masonry structures is highly relevant to the restructuring of existing buildings. Laboratory tests on masonry walls were performed in order to determine the mechanical behavioural characteristics of old brick material.