Author(s)

F.V. Karantoni, M.N. Fardis & D. Matraka

Abstract

Static and eigenvalue FEA of geometrically similar brick and stone-masonry buildings show that the former are seismically much more vulnerable. The reason is not only the lower material strength and higher mass of the walls, but mainly the lack of horizontal restraint by rigid floors in the out-of-plane direction. 1 Introduction Two or three-storey stone or brick masonry buildings constitute the vast majority of the building stock in the seismic-prone areas of Southern Europe. Most of them were constructed in the early part of this century or before and are part of the architectural and cultural heritage, often forming the historic urban nuclei of cities and towns. Because of the inherently low strength of masonry, in seismic regions earthquakes are a dominant threat to the integr

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