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Masonry walls are typically subjected to eccentric compressive loadings in common buildings. However, the design of walls towards this type of solicitation remains very empirical, often leading to oversizing the structure. This is especially true for natural stone masonry, for which experimental data are quite scarce. This paper presents an experimental campaign on 15 natural stone masonry wallettes subjected to centred and eccentric compression until failure. Different values of the eccentricity of the load, ranging from h /12 to h /4 (where h is the thickness of the wallette) were investigated, highlighting the noticeable effect of such a value on the compressive failure load. During the tests, the displacements were recorded by a Digital Image Correlation system, providing insights into the different failure mechanisms that depend on the value of the eccentricity. The so-obtained experimental failure loads are then compared to the predictions of Eurocode 6. Finally, a finite-element yield-design analysis of these tests is proposed which shows that this modelling framework is suitable to find the ultimate bearing capacity of a masonry wallette. • The greater the eccentricity of a compressive load, the lower the failure load. • Two types of failure mechanisms were identified depending on the eccentricity value. • Eurocode 6 underestimates the compressive strength of the wallettes by a 3.4 factor. • Experimental results corroborate the eccentricity correction factor from Eurocode 6. • 3D yield design provides accurate predictive results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The evolution of natural stone masonry stiffness exposed to multi-level cyclic load is revealed. • A novel secant modulus-based failure prediction method is proposed. • A constitutive model is proposed to characterize stone deformation under multi-level fatigue load. Stiffness loss and catastrophic failure frequently occur in natural stone masonry subject to freeze–thaw action and cyclic stress, which may incur serious engineering disasters and casualties. This work strives to experimentally unveil the mechanical responses of a medium-grained building sandstone exposed to dual effects of freeze–thaw and cyclic stress. Testing results are presented from the insights of volumetric deformation, secant modulus evolution. A drop in secant modulus of the first cycle is observed in the failure cyclic loading stage, whereas all former stages exhibit a modulus increase. This precursor well applies to all samples which is freeze–thaw and stress level independent. The development of Poisson's ratio as well as stress level at onset of volume reversal are also presented. A theoretical modelling is put forward to characterize the axial and circumferential strains exposed to variable cyclic stress. The model shows decent effectiveness calibrated by testing results, the way to determine constants in models is introduced in detail, which can be used by readers in a broader range of construction materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]