Numerical Study on the Effect of Joint Stiffness on the Seismic Response of Dry-Joint Masonry Arches Subjected to Support Displacements

This paper investigates the influence of joint stiffness on the seismic response of dry-joint masonry arches subjected to vertical support displacements. A small-scale segmental dry-joint masonry arch subjected to the vertical displacement of one support is analyzed. The arch is modeled as an assemblage of rigid blocks connected by no-tension contact interfaces. Nonlinear static analyses are conducted to evaluate the arch’s response to support displacements and lateral loads, which simulate seismic actions in one direction. To assess the effect of joint stiffness, the interface stiffness is varied between a very large value, simulating rigid interfaces, and a smaller value, experimentally calibrated. The numerical results reveal that interface stiffness significantly influences the seismic response of the arch. Specifically, as joint stiffness decreases, the arch’s capacity to resist lateral loads decreases. While the study focuses on small-scale dry-joint arches, the insights gained could be relevant for full-scale masonry arches with mortar joints, where joints are far from being rigid and joint stiffness may play a significant role.