Vulnerability assessment of masonry aggregates through an automated NURBS-based limit analyst approach

The aim of this paper is to present an automated procedure for the vulnerability assessment of masonry aggregates under horizontal actions through evaluation of local failure mechanisms. The method is developed as follows: realization of a NURBS model of the whole aggregate, definition of an initial mesh of NURBS rigid elements, upper bound limit analysis with dissipation only on interfaces, and computation of the horizontal load multiplier with progressive mesh adaptation by means of a Genetic Algorithm. A masonry aggregate of the histoncal center of Arsita (Teramo, Italy) has been chosen as case study.