A numerical study of the behaviour of the walls of the Cella of Parthenon subjected
to seismic loading is presented. Commonly used numerical codes for masonry structures
based on continuum mechanics are unable to handle the behaviour of discontinuous walls of
ancient monuments, in the same way as continuum models cannot capture the behaviour of
drum-columns. In this analysis, the discrete element method was used, which has been proven,
in previous research, capable to accurately predict the response of discontinuous structural
systems. The marble structural stones of the walls were modeled as rigid blocks with fric-
tional joints between them. Two types of models were used in the analyses: (i) a sub-assembly
consisting of only a section of the wall of limited length, either as it is in-situ (partially col-
lapsed) or with its full height (restored) and (ii) considering the whole structure partially re-
stored. In one of the models of type (i), the existing damage of the stones was also
implemented. Analyses were performed with and without considering the metallic elements
(clamps and dowels) that connect adjacent stonesPart of the research presented in this paper was funded by the Committee for the Preserva-
tion of the Acropolis Monuments (YSMA), which also provided the restoration scenario that
was used for the full-structure model of Figure 3. Special thanks are due to A. Vrouva, civil
engineer with YSMA and N. Toganidis, architect with YSMA, for their help with the con-
struction details of the monumenPostprint (published version
