Discrete and continuous models for materials with internal microstructure: the case of masonry

Continuum micro-polar models are employed for modeling masonry based on a compatible identification procedure. The sensitivity of micro-polar models to the representative elementary volume (REV) chosen is discussed, moreover a discrete element model is proposed to verify reliability of several micro-polar solution. The discrete model allows to verify the influence of micro-rotations in masonry wall behavior. A comparison between discrete and F.E. Model in which constitutive functions are obtained from identification procedure is presented in some meaningful case.