Sandra Santa Cruz

Many civilizations worldwide have used dry stone retaining walls in terraces.
This presentation is to show the results of a research project elaborated by PUCP and UGA. The research aims to evaluate the seismic performance of dwellings in steeped hills supported by pircas or dry stone walls. It is a numerical and experimental research, and the scope is to establish a baseline to make recommendations about this type of structure and future research lines. The numerical model used the DEM approach with YADE software. We will discuss some strengths, weaknesses, risks and opportunities regarding economic, environmental and social sustainability. We are interested in understanding the technical aspects of this kind of structure and determining possible applications of dry stone walls.