Role of stereotomy in discontinuous modelling of masonry structures: The iconic case of the Amatrice Civic Tower

The paper explores the critical role of stereotomy in the discontinuous modeling of the non-linear dynamic response of masonry structures, with a particular focus on the Amatrice Civic Tower. Situated in the Rieti province of the Lazio region, Italy, the tower has gained prominence as a symbol of resilience following the catastrophic seismic event that struck central Italy in 2016/17. The Amatrice Civic Tower is modeled using two distinct stereotomy strategies: the first represents a realistic configuration characterized by a chaotic texture, while the second adopts an idealized regularized pattern. The primary aim is to assess how these alternative stereotomies affect the resultant non-linear dynamic behavior. Utilizing the Distinct Element Method (DEM) implemented in 3DEC©, both in-plane and out-of-plane collapses can be predicted, including potential crumbling. This approach allows for a detailed investigation of failure mechanisms and damage evolution under seismic loading. This methodological framework enables a comprehensive comparison between the numerical simulations and the actual damage sustained by the tower, thereby providing valuable insights into the role played by stereotomy in the structural resilience.