Within the framework of the seismic risk assessment of monumental masonry buildings, we focus on the analysis of out–of–plane mechanisms which actually represent the most recurrent collapse mode for the façade of churches or basilicas. A full non-linear dynamic analysis is performed by adopting a rigid body and spring model (RBSM), where damage is entirely ascribed to the out-of-plane flexural behaviour. A phenomenological description of the cyclic response of the masonry material is provided in the definition of the constitutive prescriptions, including plastic energy dissipation and mechanical damage. Then, a comparison is made with a non-linear static pushover analysis, which is performed by means of the same RBSM under quasi-static loading, incrementally applied. The generalized force–displacement curve and the ultimate limit displacement capacity are evaluated, comparing them with the seismic displacement demand. As a case study, the church of Rosario in Guastalla was chosen, that was damaged by the Emilia Romagna Earthquake in 1987. A number of analyses have been performed, by adopting artificially generated accelerograms with different destroying potential, in order to investigate the correlation between the damage indicators obtained with the two procedures. The two methodologies showed a good agreement in the evaluation of the seismic response for low-medium seismic demands, even if NSPs tends to overestimate the damage, especially for high seismic levels.
