ERIES Seismic out-of-plane response of masonry gables

The ERIES SUPREME (Seismic oUt-of-Plane REsponse of Masonry gablEs) project focuses on enhancing the safety and seismic resilience of low-rise masonry buildings in Europe, which are characterized by their unreinforced masonry (URM) walls and diverse pitched roofs, supported by masonry gables. These buildings are prevalent in many seismic-prone areas and their masonry gables are notably vulnerable during earthquakes due to factors such as high slenderness, poor structural connections, and their position at the top of buildings which subjects them to amplified seismic forces. Additionally, the interaction of the gables with flexible roof diaphragms can also contribute to the seismic vulnerability of the coupled system.

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To advance understanding of the seismic out-of-plane response of masonry gables, ERIES SUPREME will conduct a series of full-scale incremental dynamic tests on three URM gables at the EUCENTRE in Pavia, Italy. These tests will simulate different dynamic conditions to reflect the interaction of gables with three different roof types rigid, flexible, and semi-rigid retrofitted. The results will serve as benchmarks for refining and calibrating numerical models aimed at improving the seismic performance of existing masonry structures.

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A part of this initiative is an international blind prediction competition, where participants are encouraged to predict the experimental outcomes using their own modeling approaches. The competition aims to compare the effectiveness of current models in predicting the seismic response of URM gables and to foster the development of new or improved modeling techniques.