Structural analysis of finite element models of masonry balconies and overhangs obtained by BIM

Recent news events are showing a widespread problem involving the structural safety of masonry balconies and overhangs. Not long ago it happened in Campania too: several pieces of balconies or overhangs broke away from the masonry walls and fell to the ground. The degradation phenomena, mostly due to weather, in addition to damage the surface layers of buildings facades, act, in fact, also on the balconies and overhangs structural stability. The paper focuses on a thorough procedure aimed at evaluating the static and seismic safety of these components, based on structural analyses of refined finite elements models obtained by the building information modelling (B.I.M.) methodology. The analyses are performed creating a highly detailed numerical model: therefore, the structural B.I.M. model becomes the common basis on which to work for developing also, but not only, the structural analysis. This model, in fact, lets to achieve a perfect representation of geometry and structural consistency of each examined element, that is suitable for multiple purposes. As regards the static issues, the performed structural analysis allows to check how the behavior of masonry balconies and overhangs depends on the 3D behaviour and is linked to both the characteristics of the materials and the typology of the connection with the masonry walls.