Experimental investigation and numerical analysis of tuff-brick listed masonry panels

In many towns in the south of Italy are present archeological ruins, churches, castles, aqueducts, bridges, retaining walls, private houses which are made of tuff stones coupled with bricks according to a traditional technique named "listed masonry". Although these structures represent an important part of the cultural heritage of Italy, up till now no studies, devoted to experimentally characterize this kind of masonry, are available in literature. The present paper originates from this lack and focuses on the compressive behavior of tuff-brick listed masonry panels. The results, deduced from an experimental investigation carried out by the authors during the first phase of a research program, are presented in detail. Moreover, numerical analyses aimed at emphasizing further aspects and considerations have been also performed and the obtained results have been analyzed in the light of both the experimental evidences and the directions contained in many current guidelines. The results emerged from this study underline some peculiarities concerning the role of brick-bands on the compressive behavior of the examined panels, particularly in terms of strength, stiffness and cracking configuration.