Validation and technical reliability

Solver maturity

A calculation engine that pre-dates the cloud.

The solver behind SMART masonry didn't ship with the web app. It's the result of a research line started in 2006 by Prof. Eng. Luca Salvatori, professor of Structural Engineering at the University of Florence, developed and validated over the years and documented in over thirty scientific publications. Today SMART masonry is developed by Sphera Engineering under his direction.

What we did with SMART masonry was to bring that engine onto a modern, browser-accessible architecture. The calculation logic you use today is the same numerical formulation verified across two decades of research: proven calculation technology, a completely new user experience.

Two decades of research in the engine. Zero compromises on the user experience.

Validation approach

SMART masonry validation follows three complementary directions:

• Comparison with analytical models — verification of the correct implementation of formulations against closed-form solutions known in the literature.
• Comparison with experimental results — comparison of outputs with published laboratory test data, to ensure alignment with the real behaviour of masonry.
• Comparison with other numerical models — cross-comparison with industry reference software on shared benchmark cases.

This very page is our public validation report: it collects the results of the verifications carried out on the solver and is updated as new ones come in. In line with our principle: the calculation method you use must be verifiable, not opaque.

This section is a work in progress and will progressively host the results of the verifications carried out along this direction, as they are completed.

Academic applications

Since 2008, the method behind SMART masonry has been used in several Master's theses in Civil and Building Engineering at the University of Florence, applied to real buildings — from Florence's historic monuments to ordinary buildings undergoing seismic retrofit. The theses document supervised academic applications of the method to real cases and reflect the solver's continuous university roots.

1. 2008
   F. Collura, F. Presenti. Structural modelling and seismic response assessment of Brunelleschi's Dome

   Advisors: G. Bartoli, M. Betti, L. Salvatori, P. Spinelli, A. Vignoli
2. 2010
   M. Schiavini. Seismic behaviour analysis of the tower of Rocca di Civitella in Val di Chiana and conservation rehabilitation proposal

   Advisors: M. Betti, A. di Carlo, L. Galano, L. Salvatori, P. Spinelli

   

3. 2010
   M. Poggianti. Torre di Arnolfo: investigation of the restoration history and development of rigid-element models for nonlinear analysis

   Advisors: M. Cozzi, C. Mastrodicasa, L. Salvatori, P. Spinelli

   

4. 2012
   L. Ferri. Masonry buildings: numerical modelling and comparisons in the linear and nonlinear range

   Advisors: M. Orlando, L. Salvatori, P. Spinelli
5. 2012
   G. Rampini. Critical analysis and comparison of numerical models for the study of masonry buildings

   Advisors: M. Orlando, L. Salvatori, P. Spinelli
6. 2013
   L. Innocenti, A. Senesi. The role of spandrels in the seismic vulnerability assessment of in-plane loaded masonry walls

   Advisors: M. Orlando, L. Salvatori, P. Spinelli

   

7. 2016
   C. Pagani. Geometric irregularities in masonry walls

   Advisors: M. Orlando, L. Salvatori, P. Spinelli

   

8. 2017
   R. Amorosi. Mechanical behaviour of masonry spandrels: numerical interpretations of experimental tests

   Advisors: S. Boschi, L. Salvatori, P. Spinelli, A. Vignoli
9. 2019
   E. Pacini, C. Schirru. Structural analysis and seismic upgrade design of a masonry building on via dell'Arcovata, Florence

   Advisors: L. Boganini, M. Orlando, C. Pagani, L. Ruscelli, L. Salvatori

Scientific publications

The method behind SMART masonry has been documented in over thirty scientific publications between 2007 and 2019, including six peer-reviewed international journal articles, two papers in Italian technical-professional magazines, and numerous contributions to national and international conferences. The full list is reported below, in chronological order.

Peer-reviewed journal articles

1. 2015
   Salvatori L., Marra A.M., Bartoli G., Spinelli P.. Probabilistic seismic performance of masonry towers: General procedure and a simplified implementation. Engineering Structures, 94:82-95.
2. 2017
   Marra A.M., Salvatori L., Spinelli P., Bartoli G.. Incremental dynamic and nonlinear static analyses for seismic assessment of medieval masonry towers. ASCE Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities, 31(4):04017032.
3. 2017
   Salvatori L., Marra A.M., Bartoli G., Spinelli P.. Role of correlation between mechanical parameters in the probabilistic seismic vulnerability of historical masonry towers. International Journal of Masonry Research and Innovation, 2(2-3):134-149.
4. 2017
   Bartoli G., Betti M., Biagini P., Borghini A., Ciavattone A., Girardi M., Lancioni G., Marra A.M., Ortolani B., Pintucchi B., Salvatori L.. Epistemic uncertainties in structural modeling: a blind benchmark for seismic assessment of slender masonry towers. ASCE Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities, 31(5):1-18.
5. 2018
   Salvatori L., Spinelli P.. Continuum-discrete multiscale model for in-plane mechanical modeling of masonry panels. Journal of Multiscale Modeling, 9(2):1-25.
6. 2019
   Billi L., Laudicina F., Salvatori L., Orlando M., Spinelli P.. Forming New Steel-Framed Openings in Load-Bearing Masonry Walls: Design Methods and Nonlinear Finite Element Simulations. Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering, 17:2647-2670.

Italian technical-professional magazines

1. 2017
   Billi L., Laudicina F., Salvatori L., Orlando M., Spinelli P.. Aperture in murature portanti cerchiate con telai metallici: comportamento meccanico e metodi progettuali. Bollettino Ingegneri, 9-10:3-15.
2. 2017
   Pagani C., Salvatori L., Orlando M., Spinelli P.. Fattore di confidenza sul modello a telaio equivalente in presenza di irregolarità geometriche nelle pareti murarie. Bollettino Ingegneri, 11-12:3-13.

Conference papers

1. 2007
   Salvatori L., Spinelli P.. A discrete model with lumped deformations for masonry structures: some numerical analysis results. AIMeTA'07 Congress, Brescia, 1-12.
2. 2007
   Salvatori L., Spinelli P.. Un modello discreto a deformabilità concentrata per strutture in muratura. WONDERmasonry 2, Ischia, 233-244.
3. 2008
   Salvatori L., Liu W.K., Spinelli P.. Modeling masonry microstructure through Virtual Block Clusters. WCCM8-ECCOMAS Conferences, Venezia.
4. 2008
   Salvatori L.. Modeling masonry structures through rigid blocks and interfaces. Meeting GMA08 of AIMeTA, Genova.
5. 2009
   Salvatori L., Spinelli P.. Homogenized and multiscale masonry models based on virtual block clusters. WONDERmasonry 3, Ischia, 655-665.
6. 2010
   Salvatori L., Spinelli P.. Microstructural, homogenised, and multiscale models for masonry structures based on rigid blocks. 8th International Masonry Conference, Dresden, 803-812.
7. 2011
   Salvatori L., Spinelli P.. Structural Modelling and Analysis for Research and Technology of Masonry Walls (S.M.A.R.T. masonry). Parte I: modello computazionale. WONDERmasonry 4, Firenze.

   ★First public introduction of the SMART masonry name and acronym.
8. 2011
   Salvatori L., Salinari C., Spinelli P.. Structural Modelling and Analysis for Research and Technology of Masonry Walls (S.M.A.R.T. masonry). Parte II: implementazione e interfaccia utente. WONDERmasonry 4, Firenze.

   ★First public introduction of the SMART masonry name and acronym.
9. 2011
   Salvatori L., Spinelli P.. Modellazione numerica ibrida di pareti in muratura. WONDERmasonry 4, Firenze, 36-47.
10. 2011
    Bartoli G., Betti M., Biagini P., Borghini A., Caccetta C., Ciavattone A., Del Monte E., Facchini L., Marra A.M., Orlando M., Ortolani B., Salvatori L., Spinelli P., Vignoli A.. Analisi push-over di una parete snella in muratura: modellazioni a confronto. WONDERmasonry 4, Firenze, 432-445.
11. 2012
    Salvatori L., Spinelli P.. Un modello ibrido per edifici in muratura. AidMonuments, Perugia, 357-367.
12. 2012
    Bartoli G., Betti M., Biagini P., Borghini A., Ciavattone A., Facchini L., Marra A.M., Orlando M., Ortolani B., Salvatori L., Spinelli P., Vignoli A.. Confronto tra modellazioni numeriche non lineari della risposta sismica di torri in muratura. AidMonuments, Perugia, 347-356.
13. 2013
    Salvatori L., Marra A.M., Bartoli G., Spinelli P.. Probabilistic seismic-damage of masonry towers. 11th ICOSSAR, New York, 1709-1806.
14. 2013
    Salvatori L., Spinelli P.. Hybrid discrete-continuum multiscale modelling of masonry walls. XXI AIMeTA Congress, Torino.
15. 2014
    Terenzi G., Spinelli P., Salvatori L.. Interpretazione dell'intervento di consolidamento di volte della cripta di S. Maria Novella a Firenze a cura del Prof. Ing. Andrea Chiarugi. Safe Monuments, Firenze, 249-260.
16. 2015
    Marra A.M., Salvatori L., Bartoli G., Spinelli P.. Seismic response of masonry towers via nonlinear static and incremental dynamic analyses. AidMonuments 2, Perugia, 296-303.
17. 2015
    Salvatori L., Orlando M., Spinelli P.. Some issues with equivalent-frame modelling of unreinforced masonry walls. AidMonuments 2, Perugia.
18. 2017
    Salvatori L., Spinelli P.. A continuum-discrete multiscale model for the in-plane mechanical behaviour of masonry panels. 16th International Conference on Fracture and Damage Mechanics, Firenze.
19. 2017
    Amorosi R., Salvatori L., Boschi S., Spinelli P., Vignoli A.. Numerical Interpretation of Experimental Tests on Masonry Spandrels. XVII ANIDIS, Pistoia, SG12:125-137.
20. 2017
    Billi L., Laudicina F., Salvatori L., Orlando M., Spinelli P.. Forming New Steel-Framed Openings in Load-Bearing Masonry Walls: Design Methods and Nonlinear Finite Element Simulations. XVII ANIDIS, Pistoia, SG13:12-21.
21. 2017
    Pagani C., Salvatori L., Orlando M., Spinelli P.. Irregular Opening Layouts in Unreinforced Masonry Walls: Equivalent Frame and Finite Element Simulations. XVII ANIDIS, Pistoia, SS08:106-114.
22. 2017
    Salvatori L., Spinelli P.. In-Plane Seismic Response of Masonry Walls through a Hybrid Continuum-Discrete Multiscale Model. XVII ANIDIS, Pistoia, SS08:170-178.