Historic Masonry in Italy Between Experimental Evidence and National Standards: Insights from the Marche Region

An accurate classification and mechanical characterization of historic masonry is essential for the structural assessment and safety of heritage buildings. The Italian Building Code (IBC) classifies eight recurring masonry typologies and provides reference ranges for their mechanical parameters. However, due to the heterogeneity of materials and techniques, this classification may not fully capture local specificities; therefore, the IBC recommends regional investigations to refine these references and improve the reliability of local assessments. This work collects and analyzes an extensive database of in-situ experimental tests (flat-jacks and shear tests), performed by licensed laboratories in the Marche Region, comprising over 400 tests organized by masonry typology, mechanical parameter, and location. Distributional and quartile-based analyses are used to identify local reference ranges and to support comparisons with national provisions. Results highlight the frequent occurrence of a mixed stone-and-brick typology, not included in the IBC, whose characterization contributes to filling this gap. Discrepancies are observed between regional and national ranges, especially for brick masonry compressive strength, while the elastic modulus shows wide dispersion across typologies. The limited number of shear tests allows only a preliminary comparison, calling for further experimental evidence. Future developments will focus on expanding the database and enabling collaborative data sharing.