Assessment of the vulnerability of masonry buildings subjected to avalanche loadings

Abstract

Since last decades, mountainous areas have assumed great importance for tourism and the economy. Infrastructures were set up in regions where avalanche risk is likely to exist. Thus, the assessment of the vulnerability of infrastructures is now regarded as a major challenge. This paper is devoted to the case of masonry buildings, which are submitted to dynamic out-of-plane loadings. An original numerical approach, which is based on the discrete element method, is proposed. This approach has allowed an engineering tool for vulnerability assessment to be developed.