Numerical and experimental tests on three-leaves stone masonry specimens

Distinct Element SW packages can be devoted to the numerical analysis of masonry structures. This fact has suggested carrying out several numerical tests to check their efficiency in the analysis of the mechanical behavior of three-leaf stone masonries. By means of a Distinct Element Code, numerical models of some physical samples have been performed. The numerical analysis aims to detect the shear transfer capacity of different types of leaves connections: with and without offset. The comparison between the numerical and experimental results gives indications for the constitutive modeling of the mechanical response for both cases of interface connection. Moreover the effects of stress concentration due to the presence of offsets and its influence on collapse condition have been investigated.