Rammed earth is one of the oldest building materials in the world and is present in the
Portugal with a particular focus in the South of the country. The mechanical properties and
the structural behaviour of rammed earth constructions have been the subject of study of
many researchers in the recent years. This study is part of a broader research on vernacular
seismic culture in Portugal. Numerical analyses were carried out on a rammed earth masonry
construction representative of the vernacular heritage of Alentejo region. Variations in the
geometry, constructive characteristics and material properties were implemented and the main
conclusions of the non-linear static and modal analysis are presented. Analysing the damage
framework allowed interpreting the weaknesses of this type of constructions and consider the
most appropriate reinforcement methodologies
