To this aim, different benchmark examples-of increasing complexity, ranging from the single panel to 3D existing buildings-have been specifically designed. The main objective of the research is the critical analysis and the systematic comparison of the results obtained by using several modelling approaches and software package tools on selected benchmark examples in order to provide a useful and qualified reference to the engineering and scientific community. The activity conveyed the effort of many experts from various Italian universities and was funded by the Italian Department of Civil Protection within the context of the ReLUIS projects. Within this context, this paper is an overview of a wide research activity addressed to the benchmarking of software packages for the modelling and seismic assessment through nonlinear static analyses of URM buildings.

The analysts have so many different possible choices in interpreting the response of the examined structure and in transferring them into the model for the assessment that the achievable results may turn out in a huge scattering, as also testified by various comparative studies already available in the literature. Seismic modelling of unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings is addressed worldwide according to different approaches, not only at research level, but also in the current engineering practice.

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