Masonry buildings subjected to foundation settlements due to landslide: A preliminary study on the interpretation of structural behaviour using the load path method

Abstract

Models have always been instruments to foresee the characteristics of a work. Only after Galilei, this custom entered the heritage of science and then models also become instruments to simulate and analyse structural behaviour. This paper reports the preliminary results of a study on the use of the load path method to interpret the behaviour of masonry buildings subjected to foundation settlements due to landslide. Models useful for describing global behaviour are presented. The aim is to show the effectiveness of the load path method for the prediction of structural behaviour, as well as for the diagnosis of crack patterns. © 2009 WIT Press.