The paper explores the critical role of stereotomy in the discontinuous modeling of the non-linear dynamic response of masonry structures, with a particular focus on the Amatrice Civic Tower. Situated in the Rieti province of the Lazio region, Italy, the tower has gained prominence as a symbol of resilience following the catastrophic seismic event that struck central Italy in 2016/17. The Amatrice Civic Tower is modeled using two distinct stereotomy strategies: the first represents a realistic configuration characterized by a chaotic texture, while the second adopts an idealized regularized pattern. The primary aim is to assess how these alternative stereotomies affect the resultant non-linear dynamic behavior. Utilizing the Distinct Element Method (DEM) implemented in 3DEC©, both in-plane and out-of-plane collapses can be predicted, including potential crumbling. This approach allows for a detailed investigation of failure mechanisms and damage evolution under seismic loading. This methodological framework enables a comprehensive comparison between the numerical simulations and the actual damage sustained by the tower, thereby providing valuable insights into the role played by stereotomy in the structural resilience.
Schiavoni et al. (2026) studied this question.