Some recent advances and applications in Distinct Element modelling of masonry structures

In this paper, advanced numerical models are used to study the progressive damage of a historic building, namely the Palazzo of Podestà and the Civic Tower of Accumoli (central Italy). The dynamic behaviour of the structure is analyzed following important seismic events such as those that occurred in 2016-2017. Discontinuous and continuous approaches are used. In the formers, the masonry response is represented both with Discrete Element Method (DEM) and the Non-Smooth Contact Dynamic (NSCD) method; in the latter the masonry nonlinearity is replicated using the Concrete Damage Plasticity (CDP) model. The numerical results showed a good correspondence of all the approaches with the real damage suffered by the structure after the seismic sequence.