A discrete macro element method for modelling ductile steel frames around the openings of URM buildings as low impact retrofitting strategy

This paper adopts the use of steel frames around existing openings as a low-impact seismic retrofitting strategy for unreinforced masonry structures (URM). Although elastic steel frames have been commonly adopted for strengthening masonry walls in case of the realization of new openings, the use of elasto-plastic frames has been proposed only recently. This study adopts the application of low-resistance ductile steel frames on the openings of existing masonry buildings as a low-impact retrofitting strategy. The adopted low-invasive solution possesses the advantage of increasing the in-plane resistance of the masonry wall, improving the displacement capacity, introducing additional energy dissipation under dynamic loadings, and providing a confinement effect on the adjacent masonry piers. An original aspect of the present paper is related to the adopted numerical method for modelling the presence of the steel frames around the openings. Namely, a Discrete Macro-Element Method (DMEM), which allows an efficient and reliable simulation of the involved collapse mechanisms of the masonry walls interacting with the frames, has been adopted. After the validation of the numerical approach, through a comparison with experimental results already reported in the literature, the low-impact strategy has been applied on a benchmark known as the “via Martoglio building”. The obtained results suggest that this low-impact retrofitting strategy can be successfully proposed for URM buildings and can be efficiently modelled by means of the DMEM.