A Visual Programming Tool for Assessing Out-of-Plane Collapse in Masonry Walls

The present paper focuses on the assessment and preservation of the structural safety of traditional masonry constructions by predicting their most probable collapse mechanism. The aim is to propose an efficient numerical approach for evaluating collapse in historical masonry structures, based on kinematic limit analysis applied to common local failure mechanisms and implemented through a visual scripting computational tool. The method integrates linear programming optimization within a CAD environment, utilizing an interactive Python component to compute the collapse load multiplier. The structural model is based on rigid blocks, following Heyman’s assumptions. The effectiveness of the visual scripting framework is validated through the systematic evaluation of out-of-plane collapse mechanisms of masonry walls, demonstrating its potential for rapid and accurate structural safety assessments.